Summertime is the time for fun and games, summer camps and recreational sports for your kids. Unfortunately, these activities can also result in injuries to your child’s teeth and mouth, resulting in the need to visit a pediatric dentist. Knowing how to prevent them can help you lower chances of your child having a dental injury. It is also helpful to know where to get treatment should a dental injury occur.
- Keep an Eye on the Pool
Recreational swimming can be a lot of fun for kids; however, it can also result in chipped and cracked teeth. Keeping horseplay to a minimum can help prevent occurrences of this from happening. A couple of other useful things to know is that kids and adults who swim between 5 and 7 hours a day in the pool can develop swimmer’s calculus — stains on the teeth due to pool water’s high pH level. This can be treated with dental cleanings. Having supervising adults know CPR and first aid, as well as keeping all swimmers hydrated, is good for swimming pool safety as well.
- Protect the Teeth with Mouthguards
If there’s one thing that hockey, baseball, soccer and football all have in common, it’s that they can all result in dental injuries for your child. Thankfully, mouthguards are a way to reduce dental injuries and should be worn during any sports that involve potential contact to the head or mouth. Talking with your dentist about mouthguards and protections needed for the specific sport your child is participating in is a great place to start. Look for mouthguards that are made of resilient materials, are lightweight, tear-resistant and easy to clean.
- Know What to Do If a Tooth is Chipped or Cracked
If a child does chip or crack a permanent tooth, it is important to contact a pediatric dentist as soon as possible, as time is of the essence. Holding a cold compress against the tooth and rinsing the injured area of the mouth with warm water is helpful. If the tooth has been knocked out completely, you should hold it by the crown, as opposed to the root. Rinse the tooth completely with milk or a saline solution. Have your child spit their saliva into a cup, then place the tooth in the saliva (or in milk) to keep it moist. If possible, store the tooth in its empty socket, holding it in place with gauze, so it doesn’t dry out. Immediately visit your dentist or an emergency room.
If you are looking for a pediatric dentist in The Woodlands, Texas area, consider Woodlands Pediatric Dentistry, offering patients a kid-friendly environment that makes going to the dentist fun.
Pediatric Dentist The Woodlands TX