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