August 29, 2019
As your young athlete is gearing up for fall sports, a dental emergency is likely one of the last things on your mind. However, preparing now for a sports dental emergency can help your child stay focused on having fun instead of worrying about their oral health. Our team at Dental Wellness Phoenixville wants to provide you and your child with some peace of mind this school year. Read on for tips to prevent a sports dental emergency and learn how to handle a knocked-out permanent tooth!
Tips to Prevent a Dental Emergency
While you can’t prevent every type of dental emergency, there are a few ways to limit your child’s risk:
- Bring your child to Dental Wellness Phoenixville for professional dental cleanings and exams every six months. Keeping a close eye on your kiddo’s oral health allows us to spot and treat any potential issues before they develop into major problems.
- In addition to regular visits to our office, encourage your child to maintain good oral health habits at home. Drinking plenty of water, eating a balanced diet, and daily brushing and flossing will help keep your child’s teeth and gums healthy and strong.
- Make sure your child wears a well-fitting athletic mouthguard during physical activity that could involve contact with other players, equipment, or the ground. A custom mouthguard is best because it delivers optimal protection. Additionally, your child is more likely to wear it because it’ll be more comfortable than a stock mouthguard or boil-and-bite mouthguard.
What to Do for a Knocked-Out Adult Tooth
By age 13, your child should have a full set of 28 adult teeth, also called secondary or permanent teeth. For a knocked-out permanent tooth to survive, it must be reimplanted within an hour after injury, with its best chance of survival within 15-30 minutes. After injury, handle the tooth only by its crown (the chewing surface) and not its sensitive root. Gently rinse the tooth with milk or water, taking care to not scrub, rub, or wipe it with any sort of fabric. Then attempt to place it back in its socket. If the tooth can’t be reinserted, keep it moist between the cheek and gums or in a glass of milk, but not tap water. Or, consider keeping a tooth preservation kit approved by the American Dental Association (ADA) in your child’s sports bag.
Emergency Dental Care in Phoenixville, PA
While we hope that none of our patients experience a dental emergency this school year, being prepared can make all of the difference. Have our office’s contact information saved in your phone for quick access during an emergency situation. To ask us any questions about our emergency dental services, call us at 610-933-1717!
Image by Authority Dental under CC 2.0
