Dr. Moles, reminding you September is National Childhood Injury Prevention Month!

This month, our entire team at Moles Orthodontics want you to be extra careful with your braces and appliances. After all, September marks the start of fall sports and an increased risk to mouth injuries. September also happens to be National Childhood Injury Prevention Month, and Dr. Moles thought it’d be a good idea to share a few sobering facts about sports and facial injuries, courtesy of our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists.

*More than half of the seven million sports and recreation-related injuries that occur each year are sustained by youth between ages 5 and 24. Collision and contact sports have higher injury rates—baseball, soccer, basketball and football account for about 80% of all sports-related emergency room visits.

*Sixty-seven percent of parents say their child does not wear a mouth guard, yet, 70 percent say their biggest fear when their child plays is that they will get hurt.

*Of the parents whose children do not wear a mouth guard, 84 percent say it's because the league or coach does not require it, according to the AAO.

*The average high school baseball pitcher can throw a fast ball between 75-to-85 miles per hour. This compares to being hit in the mouth by a speeding car!

We hope this helps you remember to wear a mouth guard and other forms of protective gear when participating in fall sports! We encourage you to give us a call at (414) 377-4106 if you have any questions!

Moles Orthodontics, reminding you to protect your mouth this summer

June is here, summer is nearly here, and for our team at Moles Orthodontics, that means it's time to once again remind our patients to protect themselves (and their teeth) while out on the field this summer.

To prevent your teeth from being chipped, broken or knocked out we recommend that all patients wear a mouth guard. Whether they are currently in treatment or had treatment many years ago. Invisalign retainers can help protect your teeth but we still recommend that your teeth are thoroughly protected by an actual mouth guard. When playing any type of physical activity or sports you will want to take your retainers out and store them in a safe place. Especially when you have braces you will want to wear a sports mouth guard, preferably a mouth guard that does not form to your teeth. The mouth guard that forms to your mouth will prevent your teeth from making progress and moving.

If you happen to have your tooth chipped or broken, you should call your dentist’s emergency line. A dentist can give you the options on how they can treat and how to go about fixing a chipped or broken tooth. An orthodontist should be called in an emergency if there is a severe problem with the orthodontic appliances.

Instead of recommending sports drinks, water is still the very best thing you can drink to stay hydrated during sports and physical activity. Water is always the absolute best for keeping your teeth and body healthy!

We hope you enjoyed Memorial Day weekend! Great to be back to work perfecting our patients' bites!

April is National Facial Protection Month! From Dr. Moles

With spring here, many children, teens and adults will once again pick up the ball, bring the bat out of seasonal retirement, and lace up their cleats to hit the fields for the return of spring sports! April is National Facial Protection Month, and during this time, Dr. Moles and our dedicated team at Moles Orthodontics urge our young athletes to play it safe when out on the field. Here are a few ways to ensure your mouth’s safety this spring, courtesy of our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists:

1. Wear mouth guards for contact sports such as baseball, softball, soccer and lacrosse.
2. Wear a helmet
3. Wear protective eyewear
4. Wear a face shield to avoid scratched or bruised skin
5. Be alert, even as a spectator!

We hope that helps. Protective gear is vital for anyone engaging in tooth or mouth-threatening activities. If you have any further questions about any of these tips, please contact Moles Orthodontics. Stay safe!