PLAY IT SAFE! – Protect Your Children From Facial Injuries During Sports!

PLAY IT SAFE! – Protect Your Children From Facial Injuries During Sports!

Helmet – check. ✔
Shin guards –check. ✔
Shoulder pads – check. ✔
Mouth guard - ?

April is National Facial Protection Month (NFPM), and orthodontists are encouraging athletes to wear mouth guards while participating in sports and other activities.

Did you know?:

In a matter of seconds a sports injury can occur to the face or the mouth. Young children ages 5 to 14 are especially vulnerable, accounting for more than 80 percent of all sports-related emergency room visits according to the Centers for Disease Control.


Many sports injuries can be prevented by wearing the proper protective gear. Just remember these important tips:

* Wear mouth guards for contact sports. Mouth guards can help prevent jaw, mouth and teeth injuries and are less costly than repairing an injury.
* Wear a helmet. Helmets absorb the energy of an impact.
* Wear protective eyewear. Eyes are extremely vulnerable.
* Wear a face shield to avoid scratched or bruised skin. Hockey pucks, basketballs, and racquetballs can do severe damage.
* Be alert even as a spectator. Alert spectators can avoid foul baseballs and flying hockey pucks. Watch your step when climbing bleachers.

Protective gear can be another way to display your team spirit! Does your mouth guard match your uniform? Does it match everyone on the team? In recognition of NFPM, post photos of your braces & mouth guard sporting junior athletes with other parents to share! Show us your game face!

Thanks! :D

-Donna
donna@americanpopinc.com

The California Association of Orthodontists is a resource for parents to learn more about orthodontic treatments and provides general tips on how to achieve healthy, beautiful smiles, get braces-friendly recipes, and find an orthodontist near you by using the Find an Orthodontist Locator service. Why should you choose an orthodontist? Orthodontists receive an additional two-to-three years of specialized education beyond dental school to learn the proper way to align and straighten teeth.

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