TAMPA, FL -- School is almost out and the summer sports season is right around the corner. The American Association of Orthodontists warns that 67 percent of parents surveyed said their child doesn't wear a mouth guard during organized sports or practice.
A Tampa Orthodontist wants to show you what can happen if your child suffers a mouth injury and he offers advice on a simple way to prevent it.
Brice Shinault is number one on his little league team and number one in mom's heart.
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends kids like Brice wear mouth guards when playing organized sports, even a non-contact sport like baseball. When asked why her son doesn't wear a mouth guard mom says, “I'm not really sure. I just think he's never worn one. I don't really have a good answer.”
But according to the Centers for Disease Control, sports related injuries are the leading cause of emergency room visits in 12 to 17-year-olds, costing anywhere from 425 to 550 dollars.
Theresa, Brice’s mom, says, “My older son was pitching and the ball went right back at him and it hit him here and he got a concussion."
Doctor Ralph DeDomenico says there's a simple and cheap solution to avoid unnecessary mouth trauma. “A mouth guard is protection device. It allows for cushioning of the jaws and teeth and lips so there no trauma to the teeth and lips."
Mouth guards can be as simple as this one and as cheap as seven dollars -or they can be boiled and custom made to fit your particular mouth. Not only will they protect a child wearing braces from cutting up their mouth but Dr. DeDomenico says, “If you don't have braces, you can protect your jaw joint behind the ears. Any impact can damage the jaw joint you'll also prevent fractured teeth or broken teeth."
Cindy Shoemaker has a son playing ball. She says, “They have a face guard on his helmet, so they're not required to wear it.” But her five year old doesn't wear that helmet out in the field and Doctor DeDomenico says, “It’s the cheapest mouth protection and it’s much cheaper than going to the ER or to the dentist’s office. Protecting your teeth is a life time protection because if someone breaks a tooth it will forever be a problem."
Most coaches and leagues are not advising the use of mouth guards. Of the parents whose children do not wear a mouth guard during games or practice, 84 percent said it’s because the league or coach does not require it.
For more information:
WWW.BRACES.ORG
Dr. DeDomenico
813-961-1313
