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A well-fitted
helmet should sit on top your head in a level position, covering the
forehead. It should not rock back and forth or side to side. Pay
attention to the chinstrap. It should fit around your ear and under your
chin comfortably. How well do helmets work? In baseball alone, it is
estimated that batting helmets with face guards may prevent or reduce
the severity of nearly 4,000 facial injuries.
Remember, a
multi-sport helmet can be used for a variety of activities. Contact the
Snell Memorial Foundation, (916) 331-5073 and the American National
Standards Institute, (212)642-4900 for additional information about
helmet safety standards.
The best defense is a good offense – have mouth guards on your team
A 2009 survey
of parents by the American Association of Orthodontists found that mouth
guard use is low – 33%, even though one of four parents surveyed said
their child has sustained an injury during an organized sport that
resulted in a trip to the emergency room.*
Consumer Product Safety Commission statistics echo their findings. The
commission’s 2006
estimated emergency room‐treated injuries for youths under age 15 reveal
that the largest
percentage of injuries is associated with the head, face, mouth or ears.
Leading the pack in sheer numbers are bicycle injuries with 34% of the
nearly 240,000 injuries associated with the head and face. Just under
half of baseball’s 85,000 injuries were associated with these anatomical
areas.**
Just by wearing a properly fitted mouth guard, many of these accidents
and traumatic facial injuries could be prevented. In fact, the American
Dental Association estimates that mouth guards prevent more than 200,000
oral injuries each year.
An effective
mouth guard holds teeth in place, resists tearing and allows for normal
speech and
breathing. Depending on your bite, it should cover either the upper or
lower teeth as well as the
gums. A range of mouth guards is available, with the most effective and
priciest being one that is custom made. But even a $5 “boil and bite”
version from your local drugstore is better than no mouth guard at all.
Don’t miss a minute of the fun – protect yourself!
Be smart. Protect yourself and your loved ones from easily preventable
oral and facial injuries by always wearing sports safety equipment like
helmets and mouth guards. Your dental professionals care about your
well-being and urge you to take the appropriate precautions when you
head out this spring.
Spread the word
Visit aaoms.org for more information on spreading the Facial Protection
Month message. You’ll find statistics, flyers to download and share, and
tips for avoiding injuries. And, contact AAOMS at inquiries@aaoms.org
and request your complimentary copy of our newly revised pamphlet on
Treating and Preventing Facial Injury – complete with a removable,
perfect for carrying in your wallet, first aid card!
National Facial Protection Month is sponsored annually by the American
Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (http://www.aaoms.org),
the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (http://www.aapd.org), and
the American Association of Orthodontists (http://www.braces.org).
They encourage children and adults to enjoy the pleasures of the season
by using common sense and taking the necessary precautions to prevent
sports injuries.
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