Waterford, MI Dentist
Lloyd H. Alpert, D.D.S.
4025 Highland Road
Waterford, MI 48328
(248) 682-6010

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Posts for tag: Spring and your teeth

February 26, 2014
Category: Dental News

Warm weather is arriving, and with it comes an

increase in outdoor sports and activities. Being active

is a good thing to do for a healthy body – make sure

your mouth is ready for the action!

Wear a Mouthguard

The most-injured area of the body during contact

sports is the mouth. Dental injuries can be permanent,

painful and costly. The good news is that injuries can

be prevented or minimized by wearing a mouthguard

which covers the upper teeth and helps prevent injuries

to the teeth, lips, cheeks, tongue and jaw. Of course, the

helmet or headgear required for the sport or activity

should also be worn as it protects against injuries to

the head and neck.

There are three kinds of mouthguards available. Make sure

you talk to your dentist about the right one for you:

Stock or ready-made mouthguards. These are the least expensive mouthguards, found at most sports stores. They

are pre-formed and ready to wear, often don’t fit very well,

and may make it difficult to breathe and speak. They may

also be bulky, loose or uncomfortable.

Boil-and-bite. Found at most sporting goods stores,

these may offer a better fit than stock, and are molded

to fit your mouth by boiling the mouthguard in water

and then biting into the warm plastic.

Custom-fitted. These mouthguards are individually

designed and constructed for you by your dentist.

They’re a bit more expensive, but are more comfortable

and do not interfere with speech or breathing.

Rinse your mouthguard under cold water after each

use and occasionally clean it with soap and cool water.

Like other sports gear, mouthguards can tear or wear

out, so it should be replaced after each sports season.

Handling Dental Injuries

Of course, dental emergencies can still happen. Here

are some simple tips for you to follow if you are faced

with one of the more common dental emergencies.

Keep this list and the emergency kit items below in

your sports bag!

If a Tooth is Knocked Out:

Immediately call your dentist for an emergency

appointment.

Hold the tooth by the crown, not the root, and gently

rinse with water if it is dirty. Do not scrub or remove

any attached tissue fragments.

If possible, gently insert and hold the tooth in it socket or in your mouth between the check and gum to

keep it moist. Otherwise, put the tooth in a cup of milk

and get the dentist immediately. Remember to take the

tooth with you!

Broken Tooth:

Rinse your mouth with warm water.

Use an ice pack or cold compress to keep any swelling

down.

Use ibuprofen, not aspirin, for pain. Aspirin is an

anti-coagulant, which may cause excessive bleeding in a

dental emergency.

Immediately go to your dentist.

Broken Jaw:

Apply cold compresses to control swelling.

Go to your dentist or a hospital emergency room

immediately.

Gums or Tissues are Injured:

Injuries to the inside of the mouth such as tears, puncture wounds or cuts to the cheek, lips or tongue should be cleaned right away with warm water. Go to the

emergency room if severe.

Bitten Lip or Tongue:

Clean the area gently with a cloth and apply a cold

compress to reduce swelling. If the bleeding doesn’t

stop, go to a hospital emergency room immediately.

Bleeding from a cut tongue can be reduced by pulling

the tongue forward and using gauze to place pressure

on the wound.

Emergency Tool Kit:

Dentist’s phone numbers (office and an emergency

home or cell number)

Saline solution

A clean handkerchief 

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