By Dr. Linda Vidone, Dental Director of Delta Dental of
Massachusetts Fall sports season is here and student athletes
are heading to the fields to compete on their school or
community’s football, soccer or field hockey team. Keeping the
season fun means playing safe, which includes protecting your
child’s teeth. More than 5 million teeth are knocked out each
year through sports injury, accident or play. Here are some
precautions to take this sports season -- and always -- when it
comes to oral health: Have your student athlete use a mouth
guard for contact sports. According to a survey of American
children’s oral health conducted on behalf of the Delta Dental
Plan Association, one thing most student athletes won’t show up
to the field with is a mouth guard. Just as helmets, shoulder
pads, and kneepads are worn to protect against sports-related
injuries, mouth guards are an equally important piece of
protective gear. Unfortunately, one in four Massachusetts teens
will be seen annually in the emergency departme