5 Sports With High Risk Of Dental Injuries

Do you know nearly 40% of the dental injuries are sports-related? Out of these, 80% of the injuries leave the front teeth either cracked, broken or chipped. Dentists suggest that there are some sports that children must play taking all precautionary measures, especially mouth guards. 

Let us look at some of the sports that offer high risk of mouth injuries:

1. Rugby

The probability of oro-facial trauma is highest in Rugby. 6 out of 10 Rugby players report one or other forms of face injury including a laceration to intra-oral and extra-oral soft tissues, dentition, loss of teeth, etc. Considering the high risk, mouth guards are essential when playing Rugby.

2. Wrestling

Wrestling is a very physical sport and naturally, the chances of injury are high. Compared to pro-wrestling, incidents of dental injuries are particularly high among intermediate and high school children.

3. Combat Sport 

Combat sport involves one-on-one dwells and there is ample physical contact. Though there are proper measures taken to avoid injuries, the probability of dental injuries can still not be ignored.

4. Basketball

Orofacial injuries are common occurance in basketball. In some cases, players pick more than one dental injury during a single season. Most of the reported cases of dental trauma are from contact with other players. Despite this, the use of mouth guards has remained very limited in the sport.

5. Hockey

Last but not least, the probability of dental injuries is very high in traditional hockey as well as ice hockey. It is common for hockey players to get hit in the mouth from stick or puck. Most hockey teams have a dedicated dentist and oral surgeon as part of their staff.

How To Avoid Dental Injuries In Sports

Whether you are playing contact sports or non-contact sports, dental injuries can occur uninvited. The best thing to do is to take all necessary measures to avoid or mitigate the risks of dental injuries by an athlete. Professional as well as amateur athletes and players must follow below tips to avoid dental trauma and injuries during sports.

• Wear Mouthguards

Mouthguards are extremely effective in preventing injuries to a person’s jaw, mouth, and teeth. In addition to this, they also reduce the impact of dental trauma by a considerable factor.

• Wear A Helmet

A helmet is an essential safety gear, particularly in sports like hockey where the probability of getting hit on the face is very high

• Wear A Face Shield

Face shields are also extremely effective in absorbing force and saving delicate bones in and around the eyes, nose, and jaw.

Dental injuries cannot be predicted. When faced with one, the best thing to do is take first-aid and visit the nearest dental clinic as soon as possible. If ignored, dental injuries can cause excruciating pain and extreme discomfort.