TOP 10 WAYS TO SAVE FACE

• Wear an orthodontic mouth guard for any contact sport (soccer, yes; chess, probably not). Mouthguards help cushion impacts and reduce the risk of dental and soft-tissue injuries. Ask your orthodontist which type fits safely around your braces.
• Wear a properly fitted helmet designed for your activity to help reduce head-injury risk. You don’t have to lose your head because you take a spill when cycling, snowboarding, rollerblading or horseback riding.
• Wear protective eyewear so your mom won’t have to say, “You’ll poke your eye out.” More importantly, you’ll be able to keep your eye on the tennis ball, baseball, football, etc.
• Use a face shield appropriate for your sport to help reduce facial injuries. Hockey pucks, basketballs, and racquetballs can do severe damage.
• Be aware of family pets. Children should be supervised when playing with family pets (cats and rabbits too).
• Buckle up and use appropriate child safety seats. Follow the seat and vehicle manufacturers’ instructions for correct use.
• Keep babies and toddlers safe. They crawl and climb, so pad sharp corners of tables, use safety locks on cabinets, install stairwell safety gates, and secure windows. They also teethe, so hide the sharp pencils.
• Be Alert… spectators can avoid foul baseballs and flying hockey pucks. Watch your step when climbing up bleachers.
• Use common sense. If an activity carries risk of dental or facial injury, wear the right protective gear. Without it, even a pickup basketball game could result in a trip to the emergency room.
• Ask the experts. To learn more, visit aaoms.org, www.braces.org and www.aapd.org or give SmileMaker Orthodontics a call at (615) 865-6551 and schedule a consult with Dr. Burton. You can find more information regarding orthodontics at www.smilemaker.com.

Mouthguard fit matters during orthodontic treatment

Choose protective equipment for the activity and use it consistently during practices and games. A mouthguard is especially important with braces because an impact can press brackets against the lips and cheeks. Your orthodontist can help select a suitable design and check its fit as your teeth move.

Inspect the mouthguard for damage or a poor fit, keep it clean, and store it in a ventilated case. Follow the care instructions and ask when it should be replaced. No protective equipment eliminates all injury risk.

For current guidance, see the American Dental Association’s mouthguard advice and the AAO’s guidance for orthodontic patients.

SmileMaker Orthodontics, Dr. Jay Burton, a member of the American Association of Orthodontists and board certified by the American Board of Orthodontics. He takes great pride in helping people achieve a beautiful smile in Hendersonville, Madison, Goodlettsville and Nashville, TN. You can contact our office at (615) 865-6551 or email us at braces@smilemaker.com.

Modified from, “April is National Facial Protection Month” is listed with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.