April is National Facial Protection Month according to the American Dental Association (ADA). The goal is for dentists to “team up” with athletes, coaches, and parents in order to alert people about the importance of guarding against dental and facial injuries. Studies have shown that about 4.5 million sports and recreation related injuries will occur in children, even as young as 5.
Many people pay hefty fees in order for their child to compete on a sports team; however one of the most important pieces of equipment is often overlooked. A mouth guard, while inexpensive, can be what saves a person from damaging their teeth while participating in a sporting event. The National Youth Sports Safety Foundation reported an alarming statistic – athletes that do not wear a mouth guard are 60 times more likely to do damage to their teeth.
At Advanced Dentistry of Collegeville, we know you spend a lot of time, effort, and money in order to keep your smile in perfect condition. We urge parents to look into mouth guards for children participating in organized sports.
For more information and resources regarding facial protection and mouth guards, patients can visit MouthHealthy.org. If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to call Dr. Silva at our office at 610-489-5555. We would be glad to explain the importance of mouth guards and other facial protection.
