Miami Beach Dentist, Dr. Rothman, Discusses Ways to Protect Your Teeth During Sports

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In the very young child, injuries to baby teeth usually result from learning to walk. There may also be damage to the unerupted permanent teeth. Sports injuries are the main source of tooth and mouth injuries in older adolescents and adults. One of the risks of playing sports is getting injured, and sometimes that means a tooth can become loose or even get knocked out. But the best time to prepare for a sports injury is before it even happens.

Below are several ways you can help prevent sports trauma and save teeth if it does occur.

1. Reduce risk of an injury

More than 80% of injuries happen to the top four front teeth, according to Dr. Padilla. Unfortunately, some people’s teeth naturally form in a way that makes them more prone to sports injuries. If this is the case, a dentist may recommend you see an orthodontist or maxillofacial surgeon to correct the problem.

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2. Get the right mouthguard, it makes a difference.

Getting and consistently wearing a custom, properly fitting mouthguard is one of the best ways to prevent sports injuries. Children should start wearing a mouthguard around 11 years old, when sports start to become more intense. However, it’s never too early to start.

Also, not all mouthguards are created equal. Get a custom mouthguard, stock boil-and-bites and conventional vacuum mouthguards do not come close to the same level of protection.

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3. Face cages: This equipment protects against trauma to the face, especially when playing certain sports positions, like baseball catcher or hockey goalie.

4. Helmets: It's always wise to wear a helmet made for the activity that you are participating in. Although most helmets won't protect the teeth and mouth, they will protect another important area – your head, to help protect against a brain concussion.

5. Know what to do if a tooth does come out

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If a tooth does come out, you need to rinse off any debris and then put it back in the mouth within five minutes, and call your dentist as soon as possible.

However, there are circumstances when a tooth cannot or should not be put back in, such as if the person is unconscious. In those instances, you should use a Save-A-Tooth emergency tooth preserving kit, or even just put the tooth in milk. Never store a tooth dry or even in water.

You can make an appointment with our dentist by calling our office at (305) 534-2002 or by visiting www.RothmanDental.com. We are conveniently located in Miami Beach at 939 Arthur Godfrey Road, Miami Beach, FL 33140

Miami Beach

Dr. Arnold Rothman

http://www.RothmanDental.com

(305) 534-2002

939 Arthur Godfrey Rd.

Miami Beach, Florida 33140

Miami Beach Dentist is Raisin Eyebrows: Is Dried Fruit Good for Your Teeth?

Miami Beach Dentist

It's all about raisins. Do you remember how disappointed you were as a kid when some concerned adult dared put raisins in your Halloween bucket? Your mother was probably relieved, convinced they would be far better for you and your pearly whites than the rest of the junk food you'd strung out across the living room floor. Ask a pediatric dentist, however, and you might get a different story.

It's true that there are a number of benefits to eating raisins. They're low in fat and cholesterol, and boast plenty of fiber, calcium and potassium. Unfortunately, they're also both sticky and high in sugar, putting them high on the list of foods that can cause cavities. Some health professionals lump them in with all the other typical junk foods kids eat. Don't worry, raisins aren't the only foods once thought healthy that can contribute to tooth decay. Go ahead and add other dried fruit, sweetened cereals and even fruit juices to the list.

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Don't chuck raisins out just yet, however. Raisins were recently found to contain phytochemicals, which are known to inhibit the growth of bacteria commonly linked to cavities. Note that this study was conducted in a lab, and no study has even been done to show that cavities are either more or less likely to find kids that eat raisins.

So, where does this leave you? A good general rule when it comes to eating for good health (oral and otherwise) is to stick with whole fruits and vegetables whenever possible. If you must eat something that you aren't sure is good for you, do it in moderation. Be sure to drink lots of water, and always either brush your teeth or rinse your mouth out with warm water after eating sugary or acidic foods to prevent tooth decay!

You can make an appointment with our dentist by calling our office at (305) 534-2002 or by visiting www.RothmanDental.com. We are conveniently located in Miami Beach at 939 Arthur Godfrey Road, Miami Beach, FL 33140

Miami Beach

Dr. Arnold Rothman

http://www.RothmanDental.com

(305) 534-2002

939 Arthur Godfrey Rd.

Miami Beach, Florida 33140

Beyond Teeth: What's Inside Your Mouth

 

Good oral health goes beyond brushing and flossing. Find out more about the inside of your mouth and the role its various structures play in speech and digestion.

 

Bottom of Form

Your mouth is made up of more than just teeth, so good oral health goes beyond simply brushing and flossing. In addition to your teeth, your mouth is made up of gums, oral mucosa, the upper and lower jaw, the tongue, salivary glands, the uvula, and the frenulum. All of these structures play an important role when it comes to good dental health and are routinely examined when you receive dental care.

The Oral Mucosa

When you open your mouth and look in the mirror, everything that isn’t a tooth is covered by a protective lining called the oral mucosa, which is a mucous membrane similar to the mucous membranes that line your nostrils and inner ears.

The oral mucosa plays an essential role in maintaining your oral health, as well as your overall health, by defending your body from germs and other irritants that enter your mouth. A tough substance called keratin, also found in your fingernails and hair, helps make the oral mucosa resistant to injury.

The Gums

Your gums are the pinkish tissue that surrounds and supports your teeth. Also covered by oral mucosa, gums play a critical role in your oral health. Healthy gums are firm, cover the entire root of the tooth, and do not bleed when brushed, poked, or prodded. Gum disease can ultimately lead to tooth loss, so taking care of your gums by flossing daily is just as essential to dental care as brushing your teeth.

The Upper and Lower Jaw

Your jaws give your face its shape and your mouth the structure it needs for chewing and speech. Human jaws are made up of several bones: The upper jaw contains two bones that are fused to each other and to the rest of your skull, while the lower jawbone is separate from the rest of the skull, enabling it to move up and down when you speak and chew.

The Tongue

The tongue is a powerful muscle covered in specialized mucosal tissue that includes your taste buds. The tongue is not just important to your oral health — it's also considered an integral part of the body's digestive system — it's responsible for moving food to your teeth, and when chewed food is ready to be swallowed, the tongue moves it to the back of the throat so it can proceed into the esophagus. In babies, the tongue and the jaw work together to enable the infant to breastfeed. Additionally, the tongue plays an essential role in the ability to speak by shaping the sounds that come out of your mouth.

The Salivary Glands

You have three sets of salivary glands in your mouth and neck: the parotid, submandibular, and sublingual glands. These glands produce saliva, which contains special enzymes that help break down food, making it easier for you to swallow. Saliva is critical to good oral health, because it protects your teeth and gums by rinsing away food particles and bacteria and by helping to counteract acidic foods that can wear down the protective enamel on your teeth.

The Uvula

The uvula is the small flap of tissue which hangs down at the back of your throat. The uvula is composed of muscle fibers as well as connective and glandular tissues. Like other soft tissue structures in the mouth, the uvula is covered by oral mucosa. The uvula has long been a source of curiosity for scientists as all of its functions are not yet fully understood. However, it seems to play some role in speech and in keeping the mouth and throat moist.

The Frenulum Linguae

The frenulum is a flap of oral mucosa that connects the tongue to the floor of the mouth. This tissue allows the tongue to move about as it does its job. If an infant is born with a frenulum that is too short, or not elastic enough, he or she can have trouble breastfeeding. A short frenulum can also affect speech.

The next time you’re brushing your teeth, spend a minute looking at the parts of the mouth that lie farther inside the oral cavity. Knowing what these structures do and what they look like can help you to maintain optimal oral health.