Parents are familiar with witnessing our little athletes endure hard falls, take a hard elbow to the mouth in basketball, or get hit by a baseball. Around Lawrence, you are bound to see an injury if you hang around Rock Chalk Sports Pavillion or Lawrence Youth Sports Complex long enough!
Observing these accidents by professionals on ESPN is one thing, but it hits closer to home when you or your young family member experience such an injury.
Of the 7 million injuries annually from recreational activities, over half affect children starting at age five.
So what is a parent to do?
The first step is protecting your teeth at all times regardless of the sport.
Mouthguards are key in minimizing dental injuries during sports, but they’re ineffective if not worn. According to a survey by the American Association of Orthodontists, 67% of parents acknowledged their kids don’t always use mouthguards in sports.
Dr. Kelli Henderson from Growing Smiles noted that, “We see a lot of injuries to teeth from youth sports, mostly related to kids that were not wearing mouthguards at the time. The key is to get the kid to always wear a mouthguard regardless of the sport. But that can be easier said than done!”
The second step is to be aware of the riskiness of the sport. According to our research, these are the top 5 riskiest sports for kids in Lawrence, KS and surrounding areas:
5. Skateboarding and Adventure Sports Like Snowboarding and Skiing
These exciting sports may not involve tackling opponents, but a slip or an adventurous move can mean a close encounter with the ground. It’s all about the thrill!
4. Boxing, Wrestling, and Martial Arts
You might guess that sports where punches are part of the game could lead to a missing tooth or two. Interestingly, over half of all young wrestlers say they’ve had a dental mishap. But don’t worry too much – mouthguards are a big help in reducing dental risks in these sports.
3. Ball and Stick Fun – Baseball, Hockey, Lacrosse
Whether it’s hitting a home run or scoring a goal, these sports do see their fair share of mishaps. Thankfully, with players often wearing mouthguards and other protective gear, the injuries aren’t usually too serious.
2. Football
Surprise – it’s not the top sport for dental injuries! Once a major concern, especially back in the 1950s, the use of mouthguards has made a huge difference. Now, dental injuries in football are much less common.
1. Basketball
Ever played a friendly game or watched one? Then you know that ‘non-contact’ in basketball is a bit of a stretch. Studies show that basketball actually sees more dental injuries than football. It’s interesting to note that mouthguards aren’t as commonly used in basketball as in football, so watch out for those teeth during the next game! Lawrence may be the “birthplace of basketball” but here is hoping that we can turn into the home of safe play by using mouthguards!!
As always, if you have any questions about the riskiness of your little one’s sport or anything related to pediatric dentistry in Lawrence, KS, feel free to give us a call or text at 785-856-5600!
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