When Should I wear a Mouth Guard?

April is National Facial Protection Month! National Facial Protection Month serves as a reminder over the importance of wearing mouth guards during sports, protecting your beautiful smile.

67% of parents surveyed by the American Association of Orthodontists said their child does not wear a mouth guard, yet 70% said their biggest fear is their child getting hurt when playing sports. The most effective way to protect your childs teeth and prevent injuries is to wear a mouthguard.

About 80% of traumatic dental injuries occur to the two front teeth. Injuries can happen at any age and any skill level. So when should you wear a mouth guard? Here are just a few.

• Basketball
• Baseball
• Football
• Soccer
• Skiing
• Rugby 

Our philosophy at Hinesly Orthodontics is combining art, science and expertise to provide the highest level of orthodontic care possible. We value your trust and confidence and will work to exceed your expectations.

May Podcast Recap: Thumb-sucking

This month, our monthly podcast is about thumb sucking. One of the most common questions we receive from worried parents is “how can we get our child to stop sucking their thumb?”

Thumb sucking can be a source of comfort and stress for children, especially children younger than 5 years old. Thumb, finger sucking or using a pacifier, teaches kids to self sooth, which is a developmental coping mechanism. Too long of this habit, can impact the development of jaws and the palette.

More than ¾ of infants suck their thumb or fingers through first year of life. Most experts agree that a thumb sucker younger than five should not be pressured to stop. Most will stop before entering kindergarten, however there is still a 1 in 5 chance that your child will still suck their thumbs pass the age of five.

Usually kids stop between the age of 3 and 4.

“Because the thumb is in the palette, in can cause cross bites. Larger spaces develop between the teeth.” – Dr. Hinesly

Before insisting the child quit cold turkey, its important to observe how deeply entrenched the habit has become. How often and in front of whom? If it happens only at bed time or in front of family members, it is less serious, than if it is at school or in social situations.

What can parents do?

Contact our office for more advice or questions, we have helped many families. Give us a call at