Sports

Mouths in Motion

I

Fact Sheet Sports Dentistry I

Whether you are a professional athlete or a weekend warrior, protecting your mouth, face, head, and neck should be a priority when you participate in your favorite sport or activity. Taking the appropriate protective measures while on the court, field, rink, or ring can save you from serious injury and costly dental repairs.

What sports pose a threat to

oral health?

Any sport that presents the chance of contact or collision with another person, object, or surface can potentially cause injury to the teeth, jaws, and oral soft tissue. These sports include, but are not limited to, football, basketball, soccer, hockey, boxing, and lacrosse. Individuals who participate in sports, such as biking, inline skating, or skateboarding, also are at risk for injury.

How do mouthguards protect my mouth?

A custom mouthguard made by your dentist covers the upper teeth with

a soft, flexible material that prevents serious injuries, such as broken teeth, jaw fractures, cerebral hemorrhage, and neck injuries, by decreasing the chance of the lower jaw jamming into the upper jaw or being pushed back into the temporomandibular (jaw) joint. Mouthguards also are effective in preventing laceration (cutting)

and bruising of the lips and cheeks. Mouthguards may reduce the severity and incidence of concussions as well.

What other types of protection do I need?

Helmets are very important when participating in sports that involve speed and impact. Properly fitted helmets can prevent major head injuries, as well as facial and neck injuries. Helmets should always fit well and be fastened correctly. For certain sports, other protective gear, such as facemasks and body pads, also should be worn.

What do I do if I experience trauma to my mouth?

If you experience an injury to your mouth, including major lacerations to your lips, cheeks, or gums, seek medical attention immediately. If you break, chip, or lose a tooth, or experience minor injury to your gums, tongue, or cheeks, contact your dentist immediately. If you seek treatment immediately after the injury occurs, your dentist often can save knocked-out teeth and repair minor chips and cracks with appropriate dental materials. See your dentist for evaluation if your tooth changes color, if you experience any dental pain, or if you notice any swelling in or around your mouth following trauma.

What should I tell my dentist about my physical activities?

Inform your dentist if you participate in sports or recreational activities. He or she can give you tips on how to best protect your mouth, face, head, and neck during these activities. Because mouth injuries can be painful and costly, dentists recom- mend that all athletes take preventative measures at all times.

www.KnowYourTeeth.com

Brought to you by the AGD, this Web site answers important dental health questions, offers the latest information on current treatments, provides tips for first-rate oral hygiene, and can help visitors find highly qualified general dentists near where they live.

Published with permission by the Academy of General Dentistry.

© Copyright 2010 by the Academy of General Dentistry. All rightsAprerisl e2r0v1e0d.|www.agd.org | AGD Impact 17

嘴巴與運動

無論你是專業運動員或是「週末運動員」，當你參加最喜愛的運動或活動時，首要做的是保護你的嘴、臉、頭和脖子。在球場、田徑場、溜冰場等運動場上，採用適當的防護措施，能減少重傷的機會和省掉昂貴的牙科費用。

1）什麼運動會威脅口腔健康？

參與任何一項運動時，當有機會接觸或碰撞到另一人或物，都有可能傷害到牙齒、頜骨和口腔軟組織。這些運動包括（但不限於）美式足球、籃球、足球、曲棍球、拳擊和長曲棍球等。而個人運動如騎自行車、輪滑（即是單線滾軸溜冰）或者滑板，也會有風險。

2）護齒套如何保護嘴巴？

由牙醫為你度身訂製的護齒套，採用柔軟有彈性的材料製作，覆蓋上排牙齒。護齒套通過減小下頜擠進上頜的機會或被推回顳下頜（顎）關節，以防止嚴重的受傷，如牙齒破碎、顎骨骨折、腦出血和頸部受傷。護齒套除了可有效防止嘴唇和臉頰的裂傷（切割）和瘀傷，也可以降低腦震盪的嚴重程度和發生機會。

3）運動時，還需要什麼其他保護措施？

當參與一些涉及速度和碰撞的運動時，配戴頭盔是非常重要的。合身的頭盔可以防止嚴重的頭部創傷以及面部和頸部受傷。所以，進行這些運動時，頭盔應該總是合身及正確固定在頭。對於某些體育項目，其他防護裝備如面罩和身體護墊，也應佩戴。

4）如果遇到嘴部創傷，應該怎辦？

如果嘴唇、臉頰或牙齦被嚴重割破，應立即求醫。如果打破、削去或者失掉牙齒，牙齦、舌頭或臉頰受輕傷，請立即聯繫您的牙醫。如果受傷後立即求醫，及時得到治療，牙醫往往可以用適當的牙科材料去救回被敲破的牙齒和修補輕微的牙齒削裂和裂縫。受傷後，如果牙齒變色，牙齒有任何痛楚，或者嘴巴裡面或周圍有任何腫脹，請看牙醫讓他為您進行評估。

5）如何告訴牙醫有關自己參與的運動？

如果您有參與任何運動或娛樂活動，請告訴牙醫。他或她可以提供一些保護技巧，例如進行有關活動時如何最好地保護嘴、臉、頭和頸部。嘴巴受傷可以是痛苦和昂貴的，因此牙醫推薦所有運動員在任何時候都應採取相應的預防措施。

KnowYourTeeth.com

以上文章，轉載自美國大眾牙醫學會（Academy of General Dentistry，簡稱 AGD）。此網站不但解答重要的牙齒保健問題，還提供有關當前牙科治療的最新信息，並給予一流的口腔衛生小提示，亦能幫助瀏覽者找尋居所附近高素質的大眾牙醫。

它的出版獲 AGD 許可。

©版權所有2010年，美國大眾牙醫學會，保留所有權利。