T’is the Season for outdoor sports and the injuries that go along with them. Remember, play it safe during recreational and organized sports. Help prevent serious, painful facial injuries that can take the fun out of the game!
- Mouth Guards are a Must – Mouth guards are significantly less expensive than the cost to repair an injury. Dentists and dental specialists can make customized mouth guards that hold teeth in place and allow for normal speech and breathing.
- Helmets are Always Helpful – Helmets absorb the energy of an impact and help prevent damage to the head and face.
- Face Shields Save – Hockey pucks, footballs, and racquetballs can cause severe facial damage.
- Shout Out Your Support for Mandatory Protective Gear – Athletes who participate in football, hockey and boxing are required to wear mouth guards. If mouth guards have been proven to significantly decrease the risk of oral injuries, why is it not mandatory in every sport for kids to wear them?
Whether your child is playing a contact sport or just monkeying around on the monkey bars, accidents happen. A recently published study by the University of Alabama at Birmingham analyzed data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS), a database of injuries treated at hospital emergency departments, for the period 2001-2008. Researchers found the five most common causes of childhood injuries in order of frequency were, basketball, football, bicycling, playgrounds, and soccer.
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