TAKE A BREAK!
The Right Fit
MOUTHGUARDS REDUCE DENTAL INJURY BY 93%
Prior to the 1960s, 50% of injuries in football were orofacial — injuries to the teeth and face. In 1962, high school and collegiate football players were required to wear face guards and mouthguards for the first time. Several studies have found that, since implementing the requirement, the percentage of orofacial injuries in football dropped to .5%. Despite this clear benefit, not all youth sports require players to wear mouthguards. At the moment, the National Federation of State High School Associations mandates mouthguards for only four sports: football, ice hockey, lacrosse, and field hockey. However, the American Dental Association recommends mouthguards for athletes in 29 popular youth sports, including:
AUTUMN CANDY CARVE COSTUME
SCARECROW HALLOWEEN
PUMPKIN FOOTBALL HARVEST LEAVES
OCTOBER ORANGE
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Volleyball Wrestling
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Softball
Basketball
Soccer
Research shows wearing a mouthguard reduces the chances of suffering tooth injuries by almost 93%. If your children plan on participating in sports this year, study up on the types of mouthguards available to you.
Standard Fit – These are mouthguards you can pick up at a sporting goods store. They’re made of thick rubber and come in small, medium, or large sizes.
Chocolate-Dipped Fruit
Inspired by Food Network
Boil-and-bite – You can purchase these mouthguards over-the-counter. As the name implies, athletes boil the mouthguard in hot water, then bite down on it while it’s still warm. This causes the mouthguard to mold roughly to the shape of their teeth.
This super easy and fun way to create homemade treats provides your kids with a healthier and more delicious alternative to packaged industrial candy. As a bonus, making it is an awesome Halloween activity for your family to enjoy. INGREDIENTS
Custom-made – These are mouthguards made by your dentist using a full impression of an athlete’s teeth. They shape perfectly to an athlete’s teeth and gums for a better fit.
Which mouthguard is best for my child?
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1 package melting chocolate
There are certainly pros and cons to each kind of mouthguard, but the best mouthguard is the one your child will actually wear. If your athlete is perfectly happy with their over- the-counter mouthguard, great! Let them keep wearing it. But many young athletes who have access to mouthguards admit to not wearing them because the mouthguard makes it hard to breathe, hard to talk, or is just uncomfortable. If your child isn’t wearing their mouthguard, we can help! Custom-fit mouthguards made by your dentist are smaller, fit perfectly, and are more comfortable than other types of mouthguards. Athletes are more likely to wear a comfortable mouthguard, helping to avoid the need for expensive emergency dentistry after an injury.
• Assorted dried fruit, including apricots and mangoes
DIRECTIONS
1. In a large saucepan, bring 1 inch of water to a boil. 2. Place a large, heatproof mixing bowl on top of saucepan so that no steam can escape. Place melting chocolate in mixing bowl and double boil until melted. 3. Dip half of each piece of fruit in chocolate before transferring to a parchment-lined baking sheet to rest. 4. Let cool for 10 minutes until chocolate solidifies. 5. Place in school lunches, serve at parties, and indulge in a few for yourself.
Call 256.534.1475 now through Jan. 1 to take advantage of our buy one, get one 50% off deal on custom-fit mouthguards. You can help protect your child’s teeth all year long.
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