Avoiding Summer Dental Injuries

Posted by nmcclees

Summer is officially right around the corner. You’ve likely been getting outside more as sports and other outdoor activities tend to ramp up. With that, unfortunately so does the risk of injuries to the mouth and teeth. We see an increase in visits due to dental injuries during the summertime. Dental and health care providers alike tend to see even larger increases in injuries on Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day. Often, we see injuries from skateboarding, contact sports, trampolines, bounce houses, and bicycle falls.

Prevention and preparedness are key.

Of course, first and foremost, it is best to avoid any injury at all. If you or your child are participating in a sport, a well-fitted mouthguard can protect the teeth, tongue, and jaw. An unintentional fall or hit to the face could cause a tooth to move out of place or chip, or worse, a knocked out tooth.

If an injury does happen, make sure you and your family know how to respond. While the severity of dental injuries can vary, quick and calm action are important. If the injury is bleeding or dirty, flush with clean water. If bleeding continues, a gauze compress will help to stop it. An ice pack on the area of the injury will help to relieve pain and reduce swelling.

If a permanent tooth has been completely knocked out, locate the tooth. You’ll need to use special care for this:

• Never pick it up by the root.
• Handle it from the crown only.
• Rinse it with clean water.
• If you can, put the tooth back into the socket.
• If this cannot be done, the next best thing is to put it and leave it in a glass of milk. This will keep the tooth hydrated.

Next, get in touch with our office as soon as possible. It is a good idea to have our number as well as other emergency numbers handy, in an easy to locate place.

For more healthy smile tips, or just to check in and make sure your teeth are in good shape, be sure to visit us at least every six months.