Football season may be coming to a close at schools across the Southern Tier, but basketball and hockey seasons have just begun.
As the winter sports season begins, parents are busy making sure their student athletes are safe on the court and ice with properly fitting uniforms and equipment. Knee pads, protective shoes, helmets, and jerseys protect athletes arms, legs, ankles, knees, and heads. To fully support child and teen athletes physical health, it is important to also focus on protecting their teeth, lips, tongues, faces, and jaws. When helping your children prepare for practices, games, and potential injuries, there are three main tips to keep their teeth healthy and their mouths happy.
Introduce Mouth Guards as Required Equipment
A hockey player can’t go onto the ice without a helmet and basketball players must wear properly fitting sneakers. Regardless of the sport, athletes should always wear a mouth guard to minimize injuries to their teeth, lips, tongues, faces and jaws. Mouth guards cover the upper teeth and cushion blows to the soft tissues of the mouth, preventing broken teeth and damage to other areas of the mouth.
Toss the Sports Drinks
Colorful sports drinks are everywhere – especially in locker rooms, on the bleachers, and off the ice. While these drinks claim to hydrate and replenish energy, they are often packed with sugar. Excess sugar that remains in the mouth produces an acid that breaks down teeth’s strong outer layer. Athletes who grab a bottle of water over sugary blue liquid experience are able to hydrate well while protecting their teeth and gums.
Coach them through Dental Hygiene
Brushing and flossing twice each day are important for athletes of all ages. Lifelong dental health begins at home. Parents who encourage their children to practice proper daily dental hygiene are setting their athletes up for mouth-health success.
Call Progressive Dental today to schedule a mouth guard fitting for your student athlete before the season tips off!
