health & wellness
Mouthing Off
Protect teeth with
a mouthguard.
n vour
The
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INCLUDING ALL HOLIDAYS!
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IMMEDIATE PRESCRIPTIONS AVAILABLE through the
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Plya(f.f_iy until 5pm and
through A/LIV:k,,Loci automated medication dispenser
located in our lobby evenings and weekends.
Only 15 minutes from the 1-96/1-275 corridor or Northwestern Highway
www.lakesurgentcare.com
2300 Haggerty Road Suite 1010 1 West Bloomfield, MI 48323
(On Haggerty Road just North of Meijer)
248-926-9111
We accept most major insurances.
Including Auto, Workers' Comp and Medicare
Michael L. Ingberg
Special to the Jewish News
W
hile many parents under-
stand the importance of
purchasing pads to protect
the most vulnerable parts of their child's
body, including head, knees and elbows,
they can overlook another key area —
their mouth and teeth.
According to the Michigan Dental
Association, the mouth is the most
commonly injured area of the body in
contact sports like baseball, basketball,
football, roller hockey, soccer and volley-
ball. As a result, many professional and
amateur athletes today are protecting
themselves with mouthguards.
This piece of equipment is even catch-
ing on with participants in non-contact
activities that pose a risk of injury to the
mouth like biking, horseback riding and
gymnastics.
"Accidents can happen when engaging
in any physical activity': said Dr. Mitchel
Smargon of Great Expressions Dental
Centers in Lathrup Village. `A misdi-
rected elbow or a bad bounce of the ball
from a seemingly harmless grounder
could result in chipped or broken teeth.
A mouthguard helps cushion any impact
to your face that might result in an injury
to your mouth. It also protects the soft
tissues of your tongue, lips and cheek
lining:'
Check out three types:
Stock: Inexpensive, pre-formed
and ready to wear. The downside:
It generally does not fit well and its
bulky size can make it difficult to
breath or communicate.
Boil and Bite: This mouthguard
also can be bought at a local sporting
goods story and can provide a better fit
than a stock mouthguard. However, be
sure to follow the directions carefully
or you can end up with a poor-fitting
mouthguard.
Custom - fitted: While this
mouthguard may be more expensive,
it is better than anything that you can
buy off the shelf because it is personally
made by a dentist and customized to
form to an individual's mouth and teeth.
"At Great Expressions Dental Centers,
we see an increase of patients during the
summer due to sports-related mishaps','
Smargon said.
"Whether you are a child or adult,
wearing a mouthguard should be a no-
brainer if you are engaging in any physi-
cal activity. Ask your dentist which type
is best for you:' E