Wellness Tips | 15 March, 2021

Preventing Dental Trauma

Accidents happen, especially when it comes to contact or high impact sports. We believe in protecting your mouth and teeth in the best way we can.

Sports are one of the most common causes of dental injury, and the cost getting a tooth knocked out is far greater than the cost of getting a mouthguard.

Protect to prevent!

The best way to treat a dental trauma is to prevent it! Avoiding trauma can be a little out of our control but there are ways that we can reduce the damage to our teeth and mouth if we encounter an unexpected knock to the head or face.

At Maven Dental we recommend custom-made mouthguards for anyone playing contact sports. This includes sports such as all football codes, soccer, boxing, and hockey to name a few.

Sports are one of the most common causes of dental injury, and the cost of getting a tooth knocked out is far greater than the cost of getting a mouthguard. A well-fitting mouthguard provides protection to teeth and jaw joints and lessens the impact on contact.

Blue mouthguard in between black boxing gloves

Custom made mouthguards are an exact fit to your teeth and gums meaning you can talk normally. These mouthguards are tailor made to your mouth so they are more comfortable and, more importantly, can be more effective compared to alternatives.

What to do if you lose a tooth?

One of the most common dental injuries is a lost tooth. If a tooth is knocked out it's important to act quickly.

First things first, if you are at a sporting ground find the first aid officer or a ground official that can assist.

Rinse the tooth with milk to wash off any dirt. To increase its survival time, either immerse the tooth in milk or place it back in your mouth. 

If your child has lost a baby tooth, do not place it back in the socket. Doing so can damage the new permanent tooth underneath.

What to do if you fracture, chip or break a tooth?

Regardless of how damaged the tooth is, you should seek medical advice immediately. 

for a fractured, chipped, or cracked tooth, reposition the tooth using very light finger pressure and hold in place with a moist tissue or gauze.

Try to find any broken or chipped away pieces and rinse them with milk to remove any dirt. If you cannot find the piece of tooth, contact your dentist immediately. Depending on how damaged the tooth is your dentist may be able to repair it. 

Young boy in soccer jersey jumping to kick soccer ball

Other Dental Emergencies

  • Toothaches - If you are suffering from a toothache, take some painkillers such as panadine or nurofen and seek care as soon as possible. Severe dental pain is often associated with an abscessed tooth which may need antibiotics as well. 
  • Facial Swelling - If you are experiencing swelling around your jawline or cheeks, you should seek medical advice immediately. Either contact your local dentist or visit the emergency department to get to the root of the swelling as soon as possible.
  • Lost Filling - A lost filling can leave sharp edges and lead to cuts on the tongue and cheeks if left untreated. If there is no pain, use bluetac or wax to smooth the edge over until you can visit your local dentist. If you are experiencing pain, contact your local dentist immediately.
  • Soft Tissue Injuries - This includes cuts, tears, and punctures to the tongue, cheeks or lips. Try to clean the wound straight away and visit your local dentist or emergency department as soon as possible. If bleeding persists, place pressure on the wound using gauze. 

Dental trauma can be out of our control. Get protected with a custom-made mouthguard at Maven Dental to help you and your family prevent any long-term damage that dental trauma may cause.