Did you know that summer is one of the busiest seasons for dental emergencies in Waco? Not only are kids on summer break, but they’re more likely to participate in outdoor activities and recreational sports. As a result, they are more likely to be involved in scenarios where accidents, knocks, falls, hits, and other injuries occur frequently.

Here’s what you can do this summer to reduce your children’s chances of a dental
emergency or a broken tooth:

Have Them Wear a Sports Mouthguard

The mouth and face are involved in a high percentage of athletic injuries. There can be a lot of pain associated with summer injuries like busted lips or chipped teeth. Choosing to wear a protective sports mouthguard during these activities can reduce your child’s chances of breaking a tooth or suffering a head injury.

A word of caution: not all athletic mouthguards are created equal. Professionally fitted appliances provide the highest level of security. If your child wears braces, consider purchasing an OTC mouthguard to prevent uncomfortable injuries without harming their orthodontic wires.

Wearing a mouthguard can help prevent sudden problems including:

Busted Lips and Lacerations

Your teeth are sharper than you realize. As a result, when you take a blow to the mouth, you may experience heavy bleeding in your lips, cheeks, and tongue. Use a clean cloth to apply gentle pressure. If it does not go away, please contact our office.

Concussions and Jaw Injuries

Broken jaws and concussions are common injuries in summer sports, but they can also occur in non-contact sports such as cycling/biking, baseball, soccer, and so on. Wearing a mouthguard can be beneficial and reduce the risk of your child being injured.

Keep Up With Routine Visits

Routine checkups allow you to stay on top of your child’s oral health before minor issues
become major problems. Before summer issues arise, we can intercept dental issues while they are reversible or easier to treat by scheduling regular visits. No one wants a dental problem during the summer camp or on vacation. Having a thorough checkup before tooth pain arrives can help prevent problems like:

Toothaches

Having a snow cone to cool things down? Sugar may cause an undiagnosed cavity to
flare up and send a “zing” through your mouth that draws your attention. Because sweet
sensitivity is a sign of cavities, your summertime indulgences may be a warning sign of
a larger problem.

Broken Teeth

Time is of the essence when it comes to broken teeth that occur because of untreated cavities. Call Bellmead Kid's Dentistry right away because we need to see you within the hour if
possible. If possible, locate your broken tooth fragment and place it in a container of milk or contact solution and bring it with you to your appointment.

Have an Emergency? Give us a Call!

Dental injuries occur at the most inopportune times. For extra summer safety, keep a first-aid kit on hand, with a small container to keep a tooth if it breaks off or is knocked out. Even if you aren’t prepared, we are always ready for an emergency. Call Dr. Susan Francis today.