Dental safety important for active kids

With summer vacation in full swing kids are spending more time outside enjoying the weather, and that can lead to more trips to the emergency room.

With all that increased activity comes a rise in the number of sports-related injuries among kids and teens.

The last time ten-year old Tyree Johnson was in a dentist chair he was feeling a lot worse.

Trauma tooth patient Tyree said, “It was terrible pain.” He was playing softball with his friends when the ball hit him smack in the face.

Reggie Johnson is Tyree’s father. Johnson said, “It was a lot of blood, he was bent over in the sink hollering and crying. It was a lot of blood coming out his mouth, so my first instinct was to get him to the dentist and see if they could save the tooth.”

Fortunately Dr. Hally White was able to save Tyree’s tooth. But she says it’s something that Tyree will be dealing with for a while.

White said, “Number one he’s already traumatized the tooth previously and he’s now involved other teeth and so this is something he will have to deal with for much of his young adult life.”

Tyree’s injury is something Dr. White sees a lot — especially in the summer time.

Dr. White said, “Tooth trauma comes in all different forms. I’ve seen children fall out of bath tubs, I’ve seen baseballs to the face. I’ve seen baseball bats to the face.”

White says the best way to prevent accidents like this is to have your child wear a mouth guard when playing outdoors.

Tyree says he’ll be back on the softball field again — this time, following his doctor’s orders.

He also has some advice for other kids: “Pay attention and use a mouth guard.”

Dr. White says you can purchase a mouthpiece at any sporting goods store for about $5.

If your child’s tooth does get knocked out Dr. White says the best thing to do is try to put it back in and of course seek medical attention as soon as possible.