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Many mouth and dental injuries can be prevented by taking the following steps:

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  • Have regular dental checkups. If your child’s gums and teeth are healthy, he/she is more likely to recover from an injury quickly and completely;

  • Use a seat belt to prevent or reduce injuries to the mouth during a motor vehicle accident. Always place your child in a child car seat to prevent injuries;

  • Wear a mouthguard while participating in sports.  We sell a great mouthguard in our Dental Store at PDC;

  • Wear a helmet and face guard in sports during which a face, mouth, or head injury could occur;

  • If you wear an orthodontic appliance, such as a retainer or braces, follow our orthodontist's instructions about proper wear and care of the retainer, including but not limited to:

    • Wear a protective mouth guard when playing sports;

    • Do not eat foods that are hard, chewy, crunchy, or sticky;

    • Do not pick at or pull on your braces;

    • Use orthodontic wax to protect the inside of your mouth from poking wires; and

    • Store the retainer in the case provided by our orthodontist.

  • If your child grinds his/her teeth, ask Dr. Luke or Dr. Marshall whether he or she recommends a mouthguard.

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More steps to prevent mouth and dental injuries in young children include the following:

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  • Be aware of your child's chance of falling, and take steps to prevent falls. In very young children, injuries to baby teeth usually result from learning to walk; 

  • When your toddler is using a bottle or sippy cup, have him or her stay seated. Do not allow your child to walk or run with any objects in his/her mouth;

  • Never leave a baby unattended in high places, such as on a tabletop, in a crib with the sides down, or even on a bed or sofa;

  • Do not leave a baby unattended in any infant seat or "sitting" toy, such as a swing, walker, saucer, or jumper. Use all the safety straps provided;

  • Be gentle when placing a bottle or spoon in a baby's or child's mouth. An object that is jammed into the mouth can tear the skin between the lips and gums or under the tongue (frenulum); and

  • If your child has protruding teeth, see Dr. Luke or Dr. Marshall for a consultation. Protruding teeth are more likely to be injured.

Avoiding Injury

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