My kids and I have all had a great experience at Dr. Harrell’s office. The whole staff is friendly, professional and knowledgeable. Every detail was explained in advance so I knew exactly what to expect. I would confidently recommend Dr. Harrell and his staff to anyone.
Summer is in full swing, and for many families, that means an action-packed schedule of baseball games, swimming meets, basketball tournaments, and cycling adventures.
At Clinton Harrell DDS, we celebrate your family’s active lifestyle – but we also want to ensure those summer memories include intact, healthy smiles. Sports-related dental injuries account for a significant percentage of emergency dental visits during summer months, yet many are entirely preventable with proper precautions.
The Real Stats on Sports Dental Injuries
Did you know that athletes have a 10-15 percent chance of experiencing a mouth injury during sports activities? According to recent dental research, nearly 40 percent of all dental injuries occur during sports or recreational activities. Even more concerning, the National Youth Sports Safety Foundation estimates that more than 5 million teeth are knocked out each year during athletic activities.
These aren’t just professional athlete problems – neighborhood basketball games, backyard baseball, and casual cycling all present risks to your dental health.
Which Summer Sports Pose the Greatest Risks?
While we tend to think of contact sports as the primary concern, dental injuries can happen in virtually any athletic activity:
- High-Impact Contact Sports: Football, basketball, and martial arts carry obvious risks of collisions.
- Stick and Ball Sports: Baseball, field hockey, and lacrosse involve hard equipment that can impact the face.
- Court and Field Sports: Soccer, volleyball, and tennis can lead to unexpected facial impacts.
- Individual Sports: Even swimming (pool impacts), cycling (falls), and skateboarding present significant dental hazard potential.
What’s surprising to many parents is that sports like basketball and baseball actually result in more dental injuries than football – largely because protective equipment isn’t as consistently used.
Custom Mouthguards: Your Best Defensive Play
The single most effective way to prevent sports-related dental trauma is wearing a properly fitted mouthguard. Consider the options:
- Stock Mouthguards: Available off-the-shelf, these provide minimal protection and often don’t fit well enough to stay in place during active play.
- Boil-and-Bite Mouthguards: These provide better protection than stock versions but still lack the precision fit needed for optimal protection.
- Custom Dental Mouthguards: Created from professional impressions of your teeth, these offer superior protection, comfort, and durability – making them far more likely to be worn consistently.
At Clinton Harrell DDS, we create custom mouthguards designed specifically for your child’s unique dental structure, providing maximum protection with minimum discomfort.
When Dental Emergencies Happen: Quick Action Saves Teeth
Despite best precautions, accidents happen. If a tooth is knocked out:
- Retrieve the tooth, handling it only by the crown (never the root)
- Gently rinse (don’t scrub) with water if dirty
- If possible, place the tooth back in its socket
- If reinsertion isn’t possible, place the tooth in milk or saliva
- Get to our office immediately – time is critical!
For cracked or chipped teeth, rinse with warm water and apply cold compresses to reduce swelling while scheduling an emergency appointment. Protect your family’s smiles while they enjoy all the active adventures summer has to offer. Call our office today at 360-450-5253 to schedule your family’s appointments for mouthguard fittings or regular checkups. You can also request an appointment online if you prefer.