How To Prevent Tooth Injuries

We all know how valuable a healthy attractive smile is.  Parents do the best they can to protect their children from harm, but accidents do happen and very often damage the front teeth, especially.  We have some suggestions to help prevent tooth injuries.

Some injuries just can’t seem to be avoided.  All of us must learn to walk, and it is at this time that many early tooth injuries are sustained.  Cushioning the sharp edges of coffee tables in family or living room areas can prevent many tooth injuries that might otherwise happen to toddlers attempting to make their first steps.  Also, never leave a baby or toddler alone in the bathtub.  Slipping on the tub is another pitfall to be aware of.

As children approach grade school, most injuries are a result of sports.  Diligent use of mouth guards, either bought at the pharmacy or fabricated by a dentist, helps prevent sports injuries to teeth.  Face cages are great protective gear for baseball catchers and hockey goalies.  Although helmets cannot prevent tooth injuries, they do protect the head, so are very important as well.

As children approach the teen years, in addition to the threat of sports injuries to teeth, is the danger of car accidents.  Seat belts prove to be the best preventive medicine to avoid tooth injuries.  If for any reason a tooth is knocked out, it is important to get to a dentist as soon as possible.  There is an old wives tale to put the avulsed tooth in water or milk, but these solutions are not the best environment if an avulsed tooth is to be successfully replanted.  In earlier posts we discussed the use of Save-A-Tooth or emt Toothsaver.  Either of these products provide the optimum ph in which to keep the avulsed tooth until the dentist can evaluate the injured area and replant the tooth.

So the best way to prevent tooth injuries is the use of protective cushions on furniture, mouth guards, and seat belts.

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