National Facial Protection Month

Did you know that sports accidents account for 10 - 39% of all dental injuries in children, according to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. April is National Facial Protection Month, a month dedicated to educating our friends and communities the importance of protecting our smiles.  Most of these injuries are caused by direct hits with a hard object, such as a puck or ball, and player-to-player contact in various sports.

There are three types of mouthguards that should be used to protect your child’s smile.

• Custom fitted mouth guards - these are made by your dentist and can be molded to fit your smile perfectly 
• Stock mouth guards - these type of mouth guards are  performed and may be a bit bulky
• Boil and bite mouth guards - are mouth guards that are softened by boiling water and then insert your mouth, to form to the shape of your mouth. 

It is important that you wear mouth guards, especially during orthodontic treatment such as braces. About 80% of traumatic dental injuries occur to the two front teeth. Injuries can happen at any age and any skill level. So when should you wear a mouth guard? Here are just a few.

• Basketball
• Baseball
• Football
• Soccer
• Skiing  

Our locations in Fairwood and Mercer Island, allow us to serve our communities with the highest level of Orthodontic care. From braces to Invisalign, our goal is to ensure your smile is an excellent, healthy smile. Request an appointment today.