The Top 3 Most Damaging Sports for Smiles

Your dentist in Highland Park is all about patients getting exercise and engaging in sports. It’s good for your body, mind, and spirit. However, there are quite a few sports that put your smile in danger every time you suit up. Some sports, for various reasons, put your teeth at a higher risk for injury and issues. 

Let’s countdown the top three sports that can do some serious dental damage to your smile. 

#1 – Ball and Stick Sports

There’s a reason this is number one on our list. Sports involving the combination of ball and stick or bat are a big danger to your smile. These pastimes include:

– Baseball

– Hockey

– Field Hockey

– Lacrosse

– Cricket

– And More

A hard ball or puck moving at a high rate of speed directly at your head or mouth is never going to have an ideal outcome if contact is made. And don’t think that football shouldn’t be included in this list. Football players wear mouthguards for a reason, whether it’s body contact or even a football to the face, there’s definitely damage to be done on the gridiron. 

Guess what? Basketball is just as dangerous for your smile. It sounds surprising for some patients when they hear it… but think about how physical a good basketball game can get. You can feel every second tick by whether you’re courtside or chairside. Basketball can become increasingly physical, “inside the paint,” or inside of the key on the court. Some big guys are throwing some serious weight around, and one false move to the mouth can mean disaster for your teeth. 

#2 – Boxing, MMA, Martial Arts

Sports such as martial arts, mixed martial arts, boxing, and others can also spell trouble for your teeth. There’s no denying that these sports are full-contact and sometimes mean hitting someone directly in the face. Oral injury is occasionally imminent. But it can be avoidable if you remember to wear a custom mouthguard courtesy of your Highland Park dentist. 

#3 – X-treme Sports

We’re talking to all the thrill-seekers out there. You know the ones who just can’t resist shredding some pipe on the skateboard, enjoying corduroy conditions on their snowboard, or doing some freestyle tricks on their BMX bike. You may think these sports are reserved for the pros you see killing it at the X-Games, but in all reality, they’re still pretty popular recreational activities. Sometimes you take a tumble or suffer a fall that impacts your smile. This can spell T-R-O-U-B-L-E for your teeth. 

It all comes down to this: Give it your all, no matter what you do. Just don’t let your game get out of hand. Remember that it only takes a few seconds to do damage to your teeth, whether they’re broken or completely knocked out. Your smile is yours for the rest of your life, so you want to make sure you’re taking all of the necessary steps to protect it both on and off the field, court, or ice.

Please remember to wear a mouthguard or sportsguard whenever you can while you’re engaging in these activities we’ve talked about today. Stay away from overly aggressive sports where you’re doing more damage to your health than helping it. Stay safe and have fun!

If, for whatever reason, you ever find yourself in a dental emergency, please don’t hesitate to call our Highland Park dental office right away. There’s always someone ready to listen and help you get out of pain, fast. Call us today to learn more or to schedule an appointment for you and your smile.