Friday, September 2, 2011

Hitting The Gridiron: The Dental Connection!

Are you ready for some FOOTBALL!  With the start of football season, this great seasonal sport often brings a rise in athletic activities, and with them, a rise in tooth and mouth related injuries.  We at Thomas Family Dentistry have a few tips for you this season to keep your smile bright.

How can I protect against chipped and broken teeth?

  • All activities come with some risk of tooth damage.  The easiest way to protect your teeth is to get a simple mouth guard from the sport's store.  The much more comfortable way is to ask us to make a custom guard for you.  We can make the guard in your team's colors and it will be a custom fit.  Contact our office to discover how affordable a custom guard can be.
  • Broken teeth can be mended almost "good as new" these days, sometimes with simple fillings, sometimes with beautiful porcelain created to match your smile by our lab artists.  Lost teeth can be replaced almost invisibly.
What if a tooth is knocked out?
  • If you have a tooth knocked out, carefully place it in liquid--milk is the very best--or, if it's clean, back in your mouth by your cheek and contact an oral surgeon right away.  If the tooth is positioned back into place within about 30 minutes or so, it may survive re-implantion.
Are Sports Drinks bad for teeth?  What can I drink to stay hydrated?
  • Sports drinks are highly acidic and filled with sugar; that makes them very bad for teeth.  Most of us don't need the extra replacement minerals like professional athletes--plain water is what our bodies require for hydration.  If you must have a sports drink, gulp it down and rinse your mouth with fresh, cool water afterwards.  The worst possible thing you can do is to sip on the sports drink little by little.  Acid coasts your teeth every sip.
Do Invisalign aligners protect my teeth as well as a mouth guard?
  • Aligners will protect your teeth from minor traumas, but High Impact Sports, like football, require a custom guard to provide the most safety from possible traumatic dental injuries.

Hope these tips helped and if you have any other dental questions, call us at 918-455-0123. Have a great season cheering on your favorite team!

God Bless, 


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