I will not lie, baseball season is very special to me and I love the start of a new season. I start each year off with aspirations of a Braves World Series and a LaGrange College National Championship (a little biased because this is where I played).
Yet, I am always reminded of safety factors involved in sports. The MOUTHPIECE can play a vital role in saving the teeth of your child. It is reported that every year, 3.5 million children ages 14 and under receive medical care for injuries. Fortunately, not all of these are dental related. However, many are.
Most of us think of football and hockey (yes hockey to those unfamiliar with it in the South) players as the only ones needing mouthpieces. However, any sport that involves physical contact should have a child wearing a mouthpiece. Custom fit mouthpieces will be less bulky and easier to wear for your child. Easier to wear leads to better compliance. As a father of three, I am extremely knowledgeable of how difficult compliance can be!
So, baseball players and basketball players, pop in your mouthpiece and play hard. It only takes one bad hop or one under and over fake to break or knockout a tooth. Look at our sports heroes in Derek Jeter and LeBron James. Both can be seen wearing their mouthpieces during the game. Million dollar smiles must be protected.
Thanks,
Joshua A. DuBose DMD
