Protecting Your Teeth from
Heat & Injury By Amanda Kossick, D.M.D.
As summer gives way to autumn here in Georgia, fall sports return as well. It is important to ensure you and your children stay hydrated and wear proper protection, especially for your teeth! Dehydration is a common problem in sports, especially on those hot and humid days that linger into the fall here in the Southeast. Proper hydration is key to preserving your teeth. Drinking water always is the best choice. While sports drinks and energy drinks have become a staple in most households, both contain a lot of sugar that contributes to tooth decay. The average 20-ounce sports drink contains 35 grams of sugar and
an 8-ounce energy drink contains 27 grams — the same amount of sugar in a candy bar. If you feel you still need those types of drinks, take extra care to reduce the likelihood of developing cavities. Immediately rinsing with a fluoride mouthwash or even water after drinking sports and energy drinks will significantly help prevent decay commonly caused by these drinks. Keep a small bottle of fluoride mouthwash or water in your gym bag, just in case. The requirement of mouth guards during games and practice has lessened the frequency and severity of accidents, but, unfortunately, they still occur. The most common accidents on the field involve breaking or losing one or more teeth due to direct contact to the face. If you or your child loses a tooth from injury and you’ve managed not to lose or swallow it in the process, take care to preserve the tooth by placing it in a glass of milk or saliva (from the person who lost
the tooth). The chemical properties of milk are similar to our own saliva and will help prevent the tooth from becoming dehydrated. Call your dentist immediately. The long-term success of the lost tooth depends on how quickly it can be placed back in the socket. Most dental offices have an emergency line in cases such as this.
Allyssa Pforts, R.D.H., contributed to this article.
Dr. Amanda Kossick is a dentist with DeMercy Dental in Roswell. 770-641-8010, DeMercyDental.com
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