Protect Your Child from Sports-Related Dental Injuries

With children heading back to school, many young athletes will begin spending their afternoons at practices in preparation for fall sports. It is estimated that between 13 percent and 39 percent of children’s dental injuries occur while playing sports, according to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Therefore, experts at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry are reminding young athletes and their guardians that it is important to take steps to prevent sports-related dental injuries this semester.

“Teeth are made of enamel, the hardest substance in the body,” says Stephen Mitchell, DMD, a professor in UAB SOD. “If the enamel breaks, it cannot grow back. If a tooth is moved out of place or knocked out, it is rarely ever the same again. So, prevention of injury is key.”

Prepare ahead of time

Prior to having a dental emergency, Mitchell recommends establishing a dental home and talking to a dentist ahead of time about emergency protocols. It is also important to discuss how the practice manages emergencies during and after business hours.

“Children will be scared during an emergency, but it is much easier for them if they are being treated by someone they already know instead of having to accept a stranger working on them in a high-stress emergency,” Mitchell says.

Wear a mouthguard

Mitchell says that, when it comes to protecting teeth, wearing a mouthguard during practices and games is extremely important. Mouthguards protect the teeth from injury and protect the brain while absorbing some of the force of an impact. Wearing a mouthguard reduces the chances of tooth fractures, tooth dislocations and soft tissue cuts. It can help protect against jaw fractures and concussions by absorbing the energy of a traumatic blow to the chin.

Amy Cooper, a dental hygienist at UAB Dentistry Dothan, recommends starting off the season by getting an oral health screening prior to beginning fall sports.

“By consulting with your dentist or orthodontist about the sport you are involved in, they can work with you to develop a plan for protecting yourself from sports-related mouth injuries,” Cooper says. “This may include helping you get a customized mouthguard or helping you find an over-the-counter version that works best for you.”

Cooper says, at this screening, the oral health provider can determine the type of mouthguard needed for the patient in regard to orthodontic treatment, underbites or overbites, existing restorations, missing teeth, and more. Oral health screenings ensure the patient is receiving the best recommendations tailored to their needs.

There are three basic types of mouthguards:

• Stock, which are preformed and ready to wear, but typically do not fit very well.
• Boil and bite, which come in a preformed shape and are customized by softening in boiling water.
• Custom-made, which require a visit to the dentist and offer the best fit and protection.

“Any competitive sport where there is the risk of something hitting the mouth benefits from the protection of a mouthguard,” Mitchell says. “When the teeth are not protected, a ball, elbow, knee or anything striking the mouth can break the tooth, push it into the wrong location or even knock it out of the mouth. These injuries are usually painful, but also damage the nerves, blood supply and ligaments supporting the tooth. This damage is too frequently irreversible.”

To keep a mouthguard clean, it is important to brush it daily. Mitchell recommends soaking periodically it in an over-the-counter denture cleaner. Softer mouthguards may benefit from being stored in water to keep them from dehydrating.

Children up to 12 years of age should wear a fielding mask

Mitchell notes that, for children up to 12 years of age, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends a fielding mask instead of a mouthguard for baseball and softball. The benefits of a fielding mask probably carry into other high-velocity ball/puck sports like lacrosse and hockey.

“Fielding masks can prevent very serious injuries for children who have the strength to hit a ball, puck, etc. hard but don’t yet have the reflexes to get out of the way,” Mitchell says.

What to do if a mouth injury occurs

“If a child has a mouth injury, the first thing you need to do is check if their airway is clear and see if there is any risk of blood going down the throat,” Cooper says. “If there is swelling in the mouth, tongue or throat, turn the person on their side in a supported position. Apply pressure to any bleeding wound or tooth socket.”

If a tooth is knocked out of its socket, Mitchell warns there is a 30-minute window of time to get the tooth back in the mouth or into a transport media. This is because microscopic cells located around and within the tooth begin to die when not connected to a blood supply. Death to a tooth’s pulp tissues, or the nerve and blood vessels in the tooth and the cells around the root, can cause long-term problems.

Prior to practices and games, Mitchell recommends purchasing a tooth preservation kit and keeping it in the child’s gym bag for dental emergencies. This kit is equipped with a solution the tooth can be soaked in in order to keep it alive.

If a tooth is knocked out, Mitchell says parents should find the tooth and pick it up by the part that is usually visible. If possible, try to put the tooth back into the socket. The site is usually numb, so it will not cause discomfort when the tooth is pushed back in. If this is not an option, Mitchell recommends using the tooth preservation kit and soaking the tooth in a solution. If none of these options are available, Mitchell says the tooth can be soaked in milk. After preserving the tooth, get to the dentist immediately.

“Remember, if a tooth is knocked out, that is a true dental emergency,” Mitchell says. “Do not wait until after the game or the next day to get help. Get to a dentist immediately. Seconds matter to the long-term success.”

If a child’s dental home is not available, take them to the closest emergency department. UAB Pediatric Dentistry residents are available for emergency dental care at Children’s of Alabama for residents in and around the Birmingham community. UAB Dentistry Dothan patients who are experiencing a dental emergency after-hours should call 334-714-9261.

Cooper recommends applying an ice cube or ice pop to the injury for 20 minutes and taking pain medication like ibuprofen or acetaminophen to reduce pain and swelling. In the days following the injury, eat soft foods and avoid salty or acidic foods, so they do not disturb or irritate the injury.

“Protecting and preventing yourself from a sports-related injury is always the best option,” Cooper says. “Preventing not only is financially the best option but also prevents trauma from the treatment the patient would have to endure after.”