Facial, Mouth, and Head Injuries

Q:  Why is spring considered the worst time of the year for facial, mouth, and head injuries?

A:  Spring is the worst time of year for these injuries.  As a matter of fact, April is National Facial Protection Month.  April was named National Facial Protection month and is sponsored by several Sport and Dental associations due to the large number of injuries from people getting outside and participating in outdoor activities.

Research by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry’s Policy on Prevention of Sports-related Orofacial Injuries found that 10% to 39% of all dental injuries in children are related to sport injuries. Research also found that three of the five most common causes of childhood injuries are bicycling, playgrounds and soccer.

Most of the injuries could have been prevented or minimized by following the below guidelines:

•        Use a mouth guard to protect your teeth.

•        Wear a helmet.  Not just for sports like football or hockey.  Wear when playing sports such as softball, baseball, bicycling, and skateboarding.

•        Ensure for proper vision (20/20) and wear protective eye gear.

•        Use face shields to protect your face from flying objects and balls.

•        Be alert.  Be conscience of your surroundings and minimize distractions.

 The following websites were used in answering the question:

http://www.ada.org/en/press-room/news-releases/2015-archive/april/sports-safety-tips-for-national-facial-protection-month

http://www.momsteam.com/health-safety/inexpensive-sports-safety-precautions-can-help-prevent-costly-sports-injuries