When you’re an athlete, the most important thing is performance. The last thing that you want to do is to be distracted by worrying about your teeth.
Unfortunately, the reality is that playing sports comes with the potential for dental emergencies, particularly if you aren’t careful. Here’s are a few of the risks that you ought to keep in mind if you’re trying to protect your teeth as an athlete, and what you can do to mitigate them.
What Dental Emergencies Can Athletes Face?
Obviously, people who play sports are susceptible to tooth decay and gum disease, same as anyone else. However, the more acute risk has to do with injury, which can cause all kinds of problems with the teeth:
- Tooth Fractures: Broken, cracked, or chipped teeth resulting from direct impact or trauma.
- Tooth Avulsion: Complete displacement of a tooth from its socket, often due to a blow to the face.
- Tooth Luxation: The displacement of a tooth without complete removal from its socket.
- Tooth Intrusion: The tooth is driven into the jawbone, which can damage the periodontal ligament and bone.
- Tooth Extrusion: Partial displacement of the tooth out of its socket.
- Dental Concussions: Injury to the tooth without displacement but resulting in sensitivity or pain.
- Root Fractures: Fractures occurring below the gum line, which can be more challenging to detect and treat.
- Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Injuries: Injuries to the joint connecting the jawbone to the skull, causing pain or difficulty in movement. Can occur after trauma to the jaw.
- Crown Displacement: Displacement or loss of dental crowns or other dental restorations.
How Do I Stop These Things from Happening to Me?
If you’re interested in keeping your teeth in good condition as an athlete, the first step is to wear all the protective gear associated with your sport. Each of them has been specially designed to prevent impact injuries and lacerations, both of which can be helpful when it comes to your teeth.
You should also talk to your dentist about a specially designed sportsguard. This will be modeled to fit your teeth in particular, which means that it’s unlikely to fail when you need it most. By investing in an extra layer of protection, you’ll be able to protect your teeth in any circumstance!
About the Author
Dr. Haren Patel’s dream has always been to have his own dental practice, and after 20 years in his field he finds it enormously satisfying to be able to share his vast knowledge of dentistry with members of his community. Dr. Patel initially studied dentistry at Gujarat University before moving to the U.S., where he received his Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry.
If you have any questions about how to protect your teeth as an athlete, he can be reached at his website or by phone at (770) 592-7000.