As a football legend and father, Emmitt Smith knows the value of facial protection for athletes. The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) is proud to partner with Emmitt to give you tips on how to protect your winning smile from sports-related injuries.
Football, soccer, baseball, hockey, basketball, and many other youth sports can all be hard hitting, and the members of the AAO want to ensure that orthodontic patients, and their teammates, are properly protected from sports related injuries to the jaw and mouth. Injuries to the mouth and jaw can do a lot of damage and some injuries can include a lifetime of matenance to repair and maintain. Facial protection is an easy step in preventing trips to the emergency room.
Many kids are not wearing mouth guards and facial protection during sporting competitions and practices. Parents, coaches and kids need to understand the prevalence of sports injuries and know that many sports injuries can be reduced or prevented by wearing the proper protective gear.
Browse the Moms for Mouth Guards web site for tips on how to protect yourself and your mouth, jaw and teeth from serious injury. Only by using a mouth guard and other forms of facial protection can athletes with and without braces avoid serious injuries.