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As
a parent, you know children need exercise.
Did
you also know the American Dental Association estimates more than 5
million teeth will be knocked out this year? The world of sports has
become far more accessible than it was when we were children, which is
great. But every sport has its own degree of risk.
Today,
it's not uncommon for children of all ages to participate in martial
arts, boxing, football, snowboarding, in-line skating, rugby, soccer
... the list is long. Most sports require protective head gear; some
suggest eye protection; but few think about a mouth guard and the
injuries it can prevent.
Taking
a hit in the mouth can be very serious. It causes a great deal of pain
and the damage can vary from a swollen or cut lip to a broken tooth, or
several teeth. If you ever get the chance to meet a hockey player off
the ice, ask him how many teeth he's lost to high-sticking or a puck
traveling at more than 80 miles per hour.
The
best way to keep your child's smile safe is to get him or her a mouth
guard.
A
mouth guard is also a smart economic move. According to one study by a
California dentist who specializes in sports injuries, the total cost
(on the conservative side) to properly fix one knocked-out tooth is
more than 20 times the cost for a mouth guard that could have prevented
the damage.
If
you're a parent in your late 30s or 40s, you know safety gear was
largely scoffed at when you were a teenager - do you remember anyone in
your neighborhood wearing a bicycle helmet? Today, they've become
commonplace. Having the right gear for the right game is considered
stylish and essential on today's playing field.
What
kind of mouth guard you get is just as important. Those three-minute,
"boil and bite" guards really offer no protection. The mouth
guards we recommend are custom-fitted, come in varying degrees of
thickness (the hockey guard, for example, is much stronger than the one
designed for or wrestling), and are available in a galaxy of colors.
Mouth
guards don't interfere with speaking or breathing. The primary job of a
mouth guard is to protect the teeth, but it also has many secondary
benefits, such as lessening impact that can cause a concussion, broken
jaw or TMJ; and protecting the brain and spinal cord.
Tell
us what sort of sports your children are involved in and we'll show you
what sort of mouth guard your up-and-coming athlete should use.
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