Your face and mouth are some of the most vulnerable places on your body. With an average of 25% of all sports injuries involving the face, the resulting damage and necessary repairs can be a costly process. As such, learning how to protect yourself to avoid injury and what to do if an injury occurs are important to know. Here, we’ll outline basic steps you can take. 

How to protect yourself

Equipping yourself with the proper gear before play is the first and most important step to protect yourself from injury. Organized sports such as football or hockey require helmets for play, but including a full cage or a visor can make a difference when out on the field or on the ice. 

Additionally, using a proper mouthguard is a crucial part of protecting yourself while playing sports. A custom form-fit mouth guard will be worth the investment for any sport you play, both for protection and comfort. Keeping child athletes equipped with the proper protection is especially important. Childhood sports injuries have been on the rise with the increasing popularity of more contact sports, such as football, hockey, and MMA (mixed martial arts).

What to do if an injury occurs

Occasionally injury can still occur even with proper protection. It is important to know what to do in those situations for your safety. Depending on the extent and type of trauma, some injuries can be taken care of at the sporting event site, with the athlete continuing play. More organized sports often have some type of care on site whether it is a licensed trainer or a coach able to assist the athlete. Having a knowledgeable person on-site knowing how to assess injury is also a way to protect against any further injury. 

If a tooth is knocked out during play, it can be placed temporarily in milk or salt water for transport, but should be placed back into the socket as soon as possible. Any other serious injury should be assessed by a medical professional as quickly as possible to prevent any further damage.

Proper protection and knowledge on how to protect against sports related facial injury is important to keep you or even a teammate safe during play. If you have any questions about sports related facial injuries or have previously suffered from a facial injury, contact our oral surgeon in 60544 office today. 

According to The American Academy for Oral Systemic Health, oral cancer claims one American life every hour of every day. Unfortunately, most cases go undetected until it is too late, making the need for regular examinations of even greater importance. Those who are proactive and seek treatment early have the best chance of beating the disease and living a long, healthy life. Below are some facts you may not have known about oral cancer, including warning signs, trends, and more. 

1.) Oral Cancer Affects More Men Than Women

No matter your gender, you should be aware of the very real dangers of oral cancer. While studies conducted by the Oral Cancer Foundation have shown that oral cancer is one the rise among women too, a 2:1 incidence ratio between men and women still remains. This correlation may be due to the fact that, statistically speaking, men smoke and drink more than women. Regardless of your own habits, remain aware of the signs and symptoms and ask your doctor to perform a regular oral exam if they do not already. 

2.) Each Year, 450,000 New Cases Are Discovered

As such, it is likely that oral cancer has affected someone in your life. Whether you know someone who has had, or is currently dealing with their own struggle against oral cancer, you should know that they are not alone.

3.) Alcohol and Tobacco Increase Your Risk

Among the many risk factors, your lifestyle choices can have a huge impact on the likelihood of you developing this cancer. It is estimated by the Cancer Treatment Centers of America that roughly 80% of people with oral cancer are heavy smokers, while 70% are heavy drinkers. Add this unfortunate statistic to the list of reasons why you should leave the cigarettes behind.

4.) When Detected Early Enough, Oral Cancer has a Cure Rate of 90%

According to many experts, part of the reason why oral cancer can be so destructive is because it often goes undetected for long periods of time. Don’t overlook or ignore any suspicious new developments in your mouth and call your doctor or oral surgeon as soon as you notice anything amiss. 

The best way to overcome oral cancer is to stay informed and catch it early. As something that is important to all dental professionals, we hope you will take this disease just as seriously as we do. We look forward to helping you stay healthy and protecting your oral health throughout your life. If you have any questions call or contact our Oral Surgeon office in 60435 today and we will assist you however we can.