April is National Facial Protection Month

Pediatric Dental Specialists

The team at Pediatric Dental Specialists wants to remind our athletes to play it safe by wearing a mouth guard during recreational and organized sports.  

A mouth guard is an essential piece of athletic gear that should be part of your standard equipment from an early age. Mouth guards prevent injuries to the bone and tissues around the teeth. They also help prevent injuries to the lower jaw and temporomandibular joint in the jaw.

A properly fitted mouth guard may be especially important for people who wear braces. A blow to the face could damage the brackets or other fixed orthodontic appliances. A mouth guard also provides a barrier between the braces and your cheek or lips, which will help you avoid injuries to your gums and cheeks.

There are three types of mouth guards:

1. Stock mouth guards come ready to wear. They are inexpensive and can be bought at most sporting good stores and drug stores. However, little can be done to adjust their fit.

2. Boil and bite mouth guards can also be bought at many sporting goods stores and may offer a better fit than stock mouth guards. The "boil and bite" mouth guard is made from thermoplastic material. It is placed in hot water to soften, then placed in the mouth and shaped around the teeth using finger and tongue pressure.

3. Custom-fitted mouth guards are individually designed and made in a dental or orthodontic office. Due to the use of the special material and because of the extra time and work involved, a custom-made mouth guard may be more expensive than the other types of mouth guards, but a custom-made mouth guard provides the most comfort and protection.

Mouth guards should be used by anyone playing contact sports such as football, boxing, soccer, ice hockey, basketball, lacrosse, and field hockey. However, even those participating in non-contact sports (gymnastics) and any recreational activity (skateboarding or mountain biking) that might pose a risk of injury to the mouth would benefit from wearing a protective mouth guard.

If you are an athlete and a patient at Pediatric Dental Specialists, talk to our doctors about selecting a mouth guard that will provide the right protection for you.

Also, if you have a retainer or other removable appliance, do not wear it during any contact sports. For more information give us a call our Long Beach Office at (562) 377-1375. Our friendly and knowledgeable team will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

April is National Facial Protection Month

 

April is National Facial Protection Month, and the American Academy of Pediatrics together with the American Academy of Orthodontics encourages children and adults to take the necessary precautions to prevent injuries common in to those who participate in sports. Dr. Cortez, Dr. Sanchez and Dr. Planells at Pediatric Dental Specialists in Long Beach want to remind parents, coaches and athletes to play it safe as they prepare to suit up for recreational and organized sports. A child’s mouth and face can be easily injured if the proper precautions are not used while playing sports. In fact, according to the Center for Disease Control, more than half of the 7 million sports- and recreation-related injuries that occur each year are sustained by youth as young as 5 years old. Last year, the National Youth Sports Safety Foundation forecasted that more than 3 million teeth would be knocked out in youth sporting events – yet, in a survey commissioned by the American Association of Orthodontists, 67% of parents admit that their child does not wear a mouth guard during organized sports. This raises a question: if mouth guards offer a simple and relatively inexpensive solution to help dramatically decrease the risk of oral and injuries, why aren’t more kids wearing them? Parents are encouraged to talk with their dental professionals about the right mouth guards for their young athletes, and to urge coaches to require that young athletes wear their mouth guards at every practice and every game.

 

4 Tips for Young Athletes to Play It Safe

1. Wear a helmet. Helmets absorb the energy of an impact and help prevent damage to one’s head.

2. Wear protective eyewear. Eyes are extremely vulnerable to damage, especially when playing sports.

3, Wear a face shield to avoid scratched or bruised skin. Hockey pucks, basketballs, and racquetballs can cause severe facial damage at any age.

4. Wear a mouth guard when playing contact sports (such as football, baseball, basketball, and soccer). Mouth guards can help prevent injury  to a person’s jaw, mouth and teeth; and they are significantly less expensive than the cost to repair an injury.

 
April is the perfect time to get into the mouth guard habit. Wear one at every practice and every game. 

PLAY IT SAFE.

April is National Facial Protection Month. 

As we return to outdoor sports and other activities, April is an appropriate time to remind you about the importance of taking a few precautions to preserve your teeth and be protected from facial injuries, whether at a practice, at a game, or simply enjoying some fun in the neighborhood.  How can you play it safe? 

Check out this funny video of one idea of keeping our little athletes safe...
Click here

Ok... since we don't have that option....

• Wear a helmet. Helmets absorb the energy of an impact and help prevent damage to one’s head.
• Wear protective eye wear. Eyes are extremely vulnerable to damage, especially when playing sports.
• Wear a face shield to avoid scratched or bruised skin. Hockey pucks, basketballs, and racquetballs can cause severe facial damage at any age.
• Wear a mouth guard when playing contact sports. Mouth guards can help prevent injury to a person’s jaw, mouth and teeth; and they are significantly less expensive than the cost to repair an injury.

Every year, children and teens come to our office with dental emergencies due to knocked out teeth, broken jaws and other facial injuries during organized or neighborhood sports activities. For most of these children, these injuries could have been less severe or prevented entirely if they had worn a mouth guard, helmet or other protective head gear.

When kids don't wear mouth guards or protective head gear in sports activities, it's usually because parents and coaches are unaware of their importance. Many parents may not realize the potential for serious injury in an impromptu neighborhood game of basketball or baseball, or a simple bike ride.


Although mouth guards are now generally considered standard equipment for football and hockey players, they really should be worn during any contact sport. “Contact sport” is not limited to one player knocking into another, but encompasses any sport in which the player is likely to have his or her face come into contact with the pavement or other hard object. Kids who participate in soccer, extreme sports (BMX biking, skateboarding and in-line skating) and other common sports should wear a mouth guard and other protective helmets and equipment to protect them from injury.


In a recent survey, the American Association of Orthodontists found that 70 percent of parents said their biggest fear is that their child will get hurt while playing organized sports, yet 67 percent admitted that their child does NOT wear a mouth guard during organized sports including football, basketball, soccer and lacrosse!

April is the perfect time to get into the mouth guard habit.  Wear one at every practice and every game!

The importance of mouth guards, from Pediatric Dental Specialists

At Pediatric Dental Specialists, we know how important it is to protect your face while playing sports. The spring months bring an increase in outdoor activities and a greater chance of damaging your precious mouth and pearly whites. Our team also knows sports-related injuries are common among children. (According to the American Association of Orthodontists, 70 percent of parents said their biggest worry is that their child will get hurt while playing sports).

That’s why the team at Pediatric Dental Specialists are doing our part to spread the word that facial sports injuries can be avoided simply by reminding your kids to wear mouth guards. In fact, our staff will do impressions that will look like exact replicas of your mouth!

In addition, the AAO has provided the following tips for keeping your kids safe on the field. Please remind them to:

• Wear mouth guards during contact sports
• Wear a helmet
• Stretch before and after a game or practice
• Wear protective eye wear
• Wear a face shield to avoid scratched or bruised skin
• Be observant—even as a spectator

All of these can reduce injuries. Only by using a mouth guard and other forms of facial protection can kids with and without braces avoid serious sports injuries. Be sure to avoid mouth guards that custom form to your teeth as these will resist any tooth movements we are trying to achieve. Lastly, please give us a call if you have any questions about mouth guards or your treatment at Pediatric Dental Specialists.

Dr. Ana Planells Answers All Your Teeth Questions

At Pediatric Dental Specialists, we know just how important it is to keep your teeth healthy and in tip top shape. There are lots of things that affect your teeth and you may have questions that you forget to ask your dentist. So we had Dr. Ana Planells explain some commonly wondered about teeth concepts. Got more questions? Give us a call at Pediatric Dental Specialists. We'd love to discuss your teeth with you.

Can fingernail biting cause damage to my teeth? What about lip biting or biting the ends of pencils?

Fingernail biting, lip biting or biting the ends of pencils can all have harmful effects on the teeth. Nail biting/pencil biting can cause wear of the teeth and lead to chipping and cracking of the enamel. Lip biting can cause damage to the lips as well as move the teeth resulting in a change of the bite.

It is said that the changing seasons can have an effect on your body and joints. Can the seasons changing also have an effect on the way the mouth feels?

The changing seasons can cause individuals to suffer from seasonal allergies. A side effect of the seasonal allergies may be an increase in mouth breathing. Mouth breathing can result in a drying of the gums and cause the mouth to feel “dry”. During these times it is important to drink plenty of water to keep the mouth moist.

5. Is sugar-free gum good for my teeth, or can it still cause cavities?

Research has shown that sugar-free gum can decrease the incidence of cavities. Chewing sugar-free gum increases the saliva flow which acts to: neutralizes plaque acids, and helps clear the food resulting in fewer cavities.

Please remember that chewing gum is not recommended for very small children. The American Gum Association states “There are no specific guidelines on when a child can start chewing gum -- each child's development is unique and variable. Ultimately, the parent or custodian is responsible for deciding at what age, and under what conditions, their children can consume any foodstuff or candy, including chewing gum, and to ensure that they are aware of and understand any potential choking hazards.

The main point to consider is whether the child knows the concept of chewing without swallowing and do they have a general understanding of the risks and consequences of choking.

6. Is a soft toothbrush or a medium toothbrush better for my teeth and gums?

Brushing your teeth and gums twice a day is recommended as part of a daily oral hygiene regimen. In order to avoid abrasion of the gums it is recommend that you always use a soft toothbrush.

Please visit the American Dental Association website to see an animation on proper brushing techniques.

9. If I play sports and use a mouthguard can constantly biting down on the hard rubber eventually cause my teeth to shift and become crooked?

A mouthguard should be worn during all sports and activities where injury to the mouth is likely in order to protect the mouth and teeth and jaws from injury. A mouthguard is made from a flexible piece of plastic material. Constantly biting down on the mouthguard is unlikely to cause teeth to shift and become crooked. A custom made mouthguard is made with an imprint of one’s own teeth and is not designed to put pressure on the teeth to shift them.
For more information on mouthguards visit the American Dental Association.

10. If my wisdom teeth came in straight, do I still need to get them removed?

If your wisdom teeth came in straight you should consult with your dentist to see if they need not be removed. Your dentist will evaluate their shape/form, the health of your gums surrounding these teeth as well as your bite to make that determination.

Pediatric Dental Specialists

With Summer rapidly approaching, we at Pediatric Dental Specialists understand the importance of being outside. So we are starting a series on outdoor activities and how to be safe while having fun in the sun. This week we talk about mouth guards, what they are, when to use them, the works. If you have any additional questions, give us a call at Pediatric Dental Specialists. We'd love to hear from you!

Q: What are athletic mouth protectors?

A: Athletic mouth protectors, or mouth guards, are made of soft plastic. They are adapted to fit comfortably to the shape of the upper teeth.

Q: Why are mouth guards important?

A: Mouth guards hold top priority as sports equipment. They protect not just the teeth, but the lips, cheeks, and tongue. They help protect children from such head and neck injuries as concussions and jaw fractures. Increasingly, organized sports are requiring mouth guards to prevent injury to their athletes. Research shows that most oral injuries occur when athletes are not wearing mouth protection.

Q: When should my child wear a mouth guard?

A: Whenever he or she is in an activity with a risk of falls or of head contact with other players or equipment. This includes football, baseball, basketball, soccer, hockey, skateboarding, even gymnastics. We usually think of football and hockey as the most dangerous to the teeth, but nearly half of sports-related mouth injuries occur in basketball and baseball.

Q: How do I choose a mouth guard for my child?

A: Any mouth guard works better than no mouth guard. So, choose a mouth guard that your child can wear comfortably. If a mouth guard feels bulky or interferes with speech, it will be left in the locker room.

You can select from several options in mouth guards. First, preformed or "boil-to-fit" mouth guards are found in sports stores. Different types and brands vary in terms of comfort, protection, and cost. Second, customized mouth guards are provided through your pediatric dentist. They cost a bit more, but are more comfortable and more effective in preventing injuries. Your pediatric dentist can advise you on what type of mouth guard is best for your child.

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