Game Plan For Sports-Related Dental Injuries

School is in full swing and sports are gearing up. Parents are often running from work to school to athletic events or practices, meaning even fuller schedules and little time for the unexpected. If you have a child involved in any athletic activity, we would like to share a game plan for avoiding and properly responding to dental injuries or emergencies that may occur in your child’s sports or recreational activities.

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What to Know About Sports & Dental Injuries in Kids

Sports seasons means higher risk of dental injuries for kids. While the statistics vary based on research, studies show that as many as 61% of athletes under the age of 18 have experienced dental trauma. In addition, approximately 10-20% of all unintentional sports-related injuries are maxillofacial injuries, according to the American Dental Association. source

Some of the most common dental injuries that occur in sports include tooth fractures, avulsion (total displacement of the tooth from its socket), as well as orofacial injuries such as lacerations in the soft tissues of the mouth (i.e. gums and lips). source

For parents with children playing sports (regardless of age), please follow these two simple guidelines to help your child have a healthy and safe experience in athletics:

1. Provide proper protection.

2. Have a plan for emergencies or injuries.

How to Prevent Injuries With Proper Protection

Fortunately, sports-related dental injuries can be easily prevented. Take the time to educate your child on the possible risks. Then provide your child with the necessary mouth or head protection, which should be worn at all times during activities (whether practice or competition). The American Dental Association recommends wearing custom mouthguards for the following sports:

• Acrobats

• Basketball

• Boxing

• Field hockey

• Football

• Gymnastics

• Handball

• Ice hockey

• Lacrosse

• Martial arts

• Racquetball

• Roller hockey

• Rugby

• Shot putting

• Skateboarding

• Skiing

• Skydiving

• Soccer

• Squash

• Surfing

• Volleyball

• Water polo

• Weightlifting

• Wresting

source

We also recommend mouthguards for baseball and softball infielders. A custom mouthguard should fit properly, be durable, easy to clean and not inhibit your child’s speech or breathing. Be sure you or your child properly cares for the mouthguard to extend its life and ensure it performs adequately in protecting your child.

Remember: Proper prevention and protection helps protect your child from severe or permanent injuries, which often require costly treatments, and allows them to play and compete with confidence.

What to Do in Case of a Sports-Related Dental Injury

What do you do when your child has a sports-related dental injury? What do you do if your child gets a tooth knocked out while playing? Not sure if your child has experienced dental trauma while playing sports? Here’s what you can do:

1. Stay calm. If your child experiences an injury in or around their mouth during sports or a recreational activity, keep calm and immediately evaluate your child. In team sports, be sure your child knows to immediately notify the coach or supervisor of any injury or emergency.

2. Find and save the tooth! If your child loses a tooth, immediately attempt to locate the tooth. Permanent teeth that have been knocked out can potentially be saved by your dentist. Once located, rinse with milk and protect the tooth until you get to the dentist’s office by storing it in a clean container with the child’s saliva or with cold milk. Even if your child loses a primary tooth, it is important to locate the tooth to ensure that it was not swallowed and does not present a choking hazard.

3. Clean the gums and mouth. Use a clean, damp washcloth to clean the affected area. Then gently apply pressure to the injured site with a clean cloth or gauze until the bleeding stops. You may also ask your child, if they are able, to rinse their mouth gently with salt water.

4. Apply an ice pack or cold compress. Once the site has been cleaned, attempt to reduce swelling and pain by placing an ice pack (or bag of ice) wrapped in a towel to your child’s mouth or jaw.

5. Call your dentist! Parents, please keep your pediatric dentist’s phone number and contact information stored in your phone. When a dental emergency happens, you need to call your child’s dentist as soon as you are able, explain the injury, request an appointment and follow any additional instructions provided over the phone. The sooner your child’s dentist can evaluate the injury and provide treatment, the more likely it is that the dentist can save the tooth or prevent more serious damage.

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At the office of Dr. Brent Caple, pediatric dentist serving families across Northwest Arkansas, we know that sports is an important and healthy part of your child’s life. If your child experiences a dental injury or emergency while playing sports or during any recreational activity, please call our office immediately at 479-273-6030. 

We are conveniently located in Rogers, AR, and provide pediatric dentistry for Benton County, including Bentonville, Bella Vista, Lowell, Siloam Springs, Springdale and surrounding areas. Call our office today to schedule an appointment or request an appointment online and our patient coordinator will contact you as soon as possible to schedule your child’s visit.