Sporting activities are a leading cause of dental injuries in Australia.

In this blog, we explore what makes sports so risky for your teeth and examine some of the most effective ways to safeguard your smile.

Sports and Dental Injuries

It’s no surprise that dental injuries are prevalent in sports. Contact and extreme sports present countless opportunities for players to make damaging physical contact with each other, their environment or their equipment. Even non-contact sports tend to involve balls or other objects moving through the air at high speed that could easily strike a player’s face. All it takes is one slip-up on the field and you could require some pretty urgent emergency dentistry services.

Here are some of the common dental injuries that can occur while playing sport:

• A fractured jaw or damage to the temporomandibular joint
• Fractured or broken teeth, leaving the tooth’s nerve exposed
• Loose or knocked-out teeth
• Teeth impacted further into the jaw
• Injuries to the soft tissue in and around the mouth (tongue, lips and cheeks)

Any of these injuries could constitute a dental emergency, depending on the severity. If you are unsure, you should contact an emergency dentist to make sure you receive appropriate medical attention in a timely manner.

The Role of Custom Mouthguards

The best way to protect your teeth from sporting injuries is a custom mouthguard. While boil-and-bite and stock mouthguards are also an option, they’re nowhere near as effective and feature a generic design that may not suit your mouth.

In contrast, custom mouthguards are specifically designed for you and are fitted correctly by a qualified dentist.

Other benefits of custom mouthguards include:

• Enhanced protection and maximum comfort
• Better quality and more durable than alternative options
• No restriction to breathing or speaking

Depending on the sport, your custom mouthguard should also be used in conjunction with other relevant protective equipment, such as masks or properly secured helmets with face guards.

Phoenix Road Dental Emergency Dentistry Perth

If you’re experiencing a dental emergency, the first step is to assess the situation. If your injury involves excessive bleeding, it’s best to call an ambulance or get to a hospital as quickly as possible to help deal with this, before seeing your dentist afterwards.

However, if your injury does not involve a lot of blood, it’s best to get in contact with an emergency dentist straight away.

If you do find yourself in need of an emergency dentist appointment near Spearwood, our expert team is here to help. We offer emergency appointments and after-hours emergency dental care to ensure the safety of your smile.

Whether you’re experiencing a dental emergency or thinking about ordering a custom mouthguard to prevent future injuries, get in contact with our friendly office today.