Staying active through sports is great for overall health, but contact sports — basketball, football, hockey, and even casual recreational leagues — carry a real risk of dental injury. Chipped teeth, knocked-out teeth, and gum injuries are common, and untreated trauma can turn into a bigger problem than it needed to be.
Common Injuries in Adult Athletes
- Broken or chipped teeth
- Knocked-out or loosened teeth
- Cuts to the lips, tongue, or gums
Even injuries that look minor can affect function and appearance if left untreated, which is why timely care matters more than it might seem in the moment.
What to Do After an Injury
- Rinse gently with water to clear the area
- If a tooth is knocked out, place it in milk or saline and get to a dentist immediately
- Apply a cold compress to reduce swelling
- Call for emergency dental care right away
Delaying treatment raises the risk of infection and tooth loss, and often turns a simple fix into a more complex, more expensive one.
Preventing Injuries with the Right Gear
A custom-fitted mouthguard offers meaningfully better protection and comfort than a store-bought version — precisely fitted to your bite, it reduces the risk of both tooth fractures and soft-tissue injury during impact. For anyone regularly playing contact or high-impact sports, it’s one of the more effective investments you can make in protecting your smile.
Protect your smile before the next game. Call Densley Dental at (702) 212-6641 to schedule a custom mouthguard fitting or consultation.