| Just a reminder for students and parents that | | | | of shape and become unsafe and uncomfortalbe. |
| part of any back to school supply list should | | | | To ensure the mouthguard continues to do its |
| be a mouthguard for any child playing contact | | | | job it is recommended the child bring it to |
| sports such as football, basketball, | | | | any dental checkups to make sure it is still |
| wrestling, soccer or any sport that poses a | | | | fitting properly and is in good condition. |
| risk of injury to a child's smile. A | | | | The American Dental Association recommends |
| mouthguard is as essential as a helmet or | | | | seeing a dentist about a mouthguard for the |
| padding for school sports. Bruises and bones | | | | following sports: Acrobatics, Basketball, |
| can heal, but teeth cannot be replaced | | | | Boxing, Field Hockey, Football, Gymnastics, |
| without a lot of cost and pain to the patient | | | | Martial Arts, Racquetball, Rugby, Softball, |
| and the parents. Mouthguards are also helpful | | | | Volleyball and Wrestling. Mouthguards are |
| in preventing concussion as they absorb about | | | | especially essential for kids who have any |
| 50% of the force from jaw related impacts, | | | | kind of dental appliances such as braces or |
| thus reducing the amount of trauma to the | | | | retainers. Your investment in your child's |
| brain. There are three types of mouth guards: | | | | smile should not end at the orthodontist's |
| the regular store bought mouth guard, the | | | | door. By adding a mouthguard to their |
| boil and bite mouthguard, and custom made | | | | back-to-school list you can be assured your |
| mouthguards fitted by your dentist. A custom | | | | child's smile is well protected. Dr. Patric |
| fitted mouthguard will provide the most | | | | Cohen is a prominent Beverly Hills Cosmetic |
| comfortable fit and a dentist can make any | | | | Dentist Who has lectured and written |
| alterations if needed. A mouthguard fitted by | | | | extensivelyh on custom fitted mouth guards |
| your dentist can also be customized to the | | | | and their essential role in the prevention of |
| demands of the sport or athlete. When caring | | | | dental injuries as they relate to sports. He |
| for a mouth guard it is recommended rinsing | | | | was a speaker at the 1996 Atlanta summer |
| with cold water or an antiseptic mouth wash | | | | Olympics as well as the Sports Medicine |
| before and after each use. Cleaning the | | | | Symposium on Head Injuries in 1999 in Los |
| mouthguard with a toothbrush and toothpaste | | | | Angeles. Dr. Cohen has also been volunteer |
| is also acceptable. It is also important to | | | | director of Dental Services at the Vista Del |
| keep the mouthguard away from any high | | | | Mar Child Care Facility as well as Team |
| temperatures or hot water as it can warp out | | | | detist for the Long Beach Ice Dogs. |