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Dental Health and Food: Learning to Eat Better

My intense love for candy, cakes, and everything in between started as a child. I simply couldn't go one day without something sweet to eat. But my love for all things sweet took a toll on my teeth. My dentist diagnosed me with seven cavities, each one a different size and depth. After sitting through four long dental appointments, I decided to make a change. I now monitor my diet and only eat things that benefit my oral health. I'm here to help you take better care of your teeth. My blog offers tips on how to improve your diet, maintain good oral hygiene, and many other topics. Hopefully, you can learn to overcome your bad habits just as I did. Good luck with your future dental health.

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Dental Health and Food: Learning to Eat Better

How To Protect Your Child's Teeth During Sports

by Eric Bailey

If your child participates in a lot of sporting activities, then you need to put measures in place to protect their teeth. Protecting your child's teeth is critical at all stages of their development. However, it becomes even more important when they start developing their adult teeth. Here are some of the best ways you can protect your child's teeth while they are playing sports.

Proper Headgear

One of the first lines of defense in most sports is the headgear that your child wears on the field. Make sure that your child has a helmet to protect their head. The best type of helmets are ones that also have faceguards. This will stop your child in most cases from breaking their teeth. 

During contact sports, a helmet with a face shield can help to protect not just their teeth but their jaw, nose, and eyes as well. Always make sure that the helmet that is used is sturdy and the right size for your child.

Use Mouthguards

Mouth guards are also another critical safety equipment that you must give your child when they play sports. Not all sports will require a mouthguard. However, if your child is participating in soccer or swimming, they will likely need to get a mouth guard. Mouthguards are often overlooked when buying sports equipment. 

However, it should be at the top of your list of things to buy for your child when they participate in certain sporting activities. There are often mouthguards available at sporting goods stores. However, these mouthguards are not customized for your child's teeth. 

It's best to get a mouth guard custom-made by your pediatric dentist. This is how you can be sure that your child's teeth will be protected.

Educate Your Child

You can buy all the right equipment to protect your child's teeth, but if they don't understand the importance of using them, they may take it for granted. One day when you're not there to supervise they may remove this gear and damage their teeth. 

Once your child is old enough, tell them why they need to wear headgear and mouthguards. When your child understands the importance of these things, it's more likely that they will assist you in keeping themselves safe.

Keeping your child safe while they are playing sports is not just about giving them the right equipment for that sport. Their smile is something that they are going to need for a lifetime. Do not hesitate to take all the necessary precautions to protect their teeth while they are enjoying their favorite sport.

For more advice, contact a pediatric dentist near you.

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