With rugby being a contact sport, there is a small risk that you may end up dealing with an incident in which your child gets a knock to the mouth.
The likelihood of this happening will increase the older he or she is, since mini rugby involves little or no contact.
This is why rugby players use gum shields to protect their teeth while playing rugby and this will probably be mandatory at the club or school your child attends.
There is more information on gum shields in the article ‘Best Kids Gum Shields‘.
This article will explore some injuries that might happen while your child plays rugby, and what to do about them if they are unlucky enough to get them.
Hopefully this will never happen, but it’s better to know what to do, just in case.
Soft tissue injuries
During a rugby match, collisions or direct strikes can cause damage to the lips, lower cheeks, and jaw.
These wounds will usually result in swelling, bruising and the occasional cut. For older player there’s a small risk of fractures to the jaw.
If there is bleeding, rinse the wound with cold water to remove dirt and apply pressure to it for at least 2 minutes and apply a dressing if necessary.
Bruising to the jaw and lower cheek can be reduced by using cold compresses.
If stitches are needed, or you suspect a fracture or damage to the teeth, always seek medical attention.
Damage to kids teeth whilst playing rugby
Orofacial injuries affect the mouth, jaw and face.
Although there are rules in rugby which aim to minimise injuries, accidents can still occasionally happen.
In rugby, gum shields are used to prevent the following orofacial injuries.
If your child suffers any of the following it’s best to speak to a medical or dental professional as soon as possible.
Tooth luxation / wobbly tooth:
Dental luxation is a term used to define the movement of a tooth from its original position in its socket following impact.
In some cases of luxation (i.e., intrusive or extrusive), an emergency visit to the dentist could allow the tooth to be repositioned.
Do not give your child hard foods during this time.
Tooth fracture:
A direct impact to the mouth can result in fractures or the chipping of teeth.
This can range from minor chips to serious fractures, which cause the exposure of the pulp inside of the tooth.
If this happens, see the dentist as soon as possible so that the tooth can be restored.
A delay in treatment could lead to infection of the pulp or non-vitality of the pulp if a large portion of your child’s tooth is chipped off.
Tooth avulsion / tooth loss:
Tooth avulsion is the complete dislodgement of a tooth from its socket as a result of acute injury.
It is possible for a dentist to re-implant a tooth, if you are able to get an emergency appointment within an hour of its dislodging.
Make sure the tooth is preserved in milk or saliva during this time.
For avulsed milk (baby) teeth, do not try to implant the tooth yourself as this may cause damage to the tooth underneath.
Before you go….
Gum shields will help protect your child from the majority of these injuries so don’t forget to check out our article on the best kids gumshields now.
