- Categories:
- Health
- Tags:
- EducationalLifestyleSafety
- Where:
- United States
- Date change rule:
- Every April
- Holiday emoji:
- 🛡️
National Facial Protection Month champions safety throughout April, urging athletes and active individuals to protect their faces. Sponsored by leading dental and medical associations, this month highlights the critical role of mouthguards and face gear in preventing sports-related injuries. Learn how to safeguard smiles, promote awareness, and ensure everyone plays safely.
Want to sponsor National Facial Protection Month? Learn how
Expected National Facial Protection Month Deals
Throughout National Facial Protection Month, the focus shifts from commercial deals to crucial awareness and fundraising efforts. Organizations like the American Dental Association and the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons partner with dental practices and sports leagues to offer free mouthguard fittings and educational clinics. Brands such as Shock Doctor and Under Armour often highlight their protective gear lines, sometimes offering discounts or donating a portion of sales to youth sports safety initiatives. Local sports stores and dental offices may host community events with injury prevention tips. We encourage supporting these vital initiatives and visiting the official websites of sponsoring organizations for ways to contribute to facial protection awareness.
Platform Guide for National Facial Protection Month
Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #FacialProtectionMonth. Share educational infographics on injury prevention and proper gear usage.
Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #FacialProtectionMonth. Post visuals of athletes safely using protective gear and share testimonials.
Tag National Today (linkedin.com/company/nationaltoday) and use #FacialProtectionMonth. Share professional insights on sports dentistry and injury statistics with colleagues.
National Facial Protection Month Hero
Dr. Anthony DiAngelis
History of National Facial Protection Month
Sport is as old as time and with sport comes injury, so we can say that sports injuries are as old as time. Major efforts to prevent them should be made as sports are part of life. It gives so many health benefits ranging from strengthening heart muscles, helping to control weight, making you feel happy with the release of endorphins, getting stronger, and a host of others. Spring often brings a flood of patients suffering from head, mouth, and facial injuries resulting from sports-related accidents to doctors’ offices and emergency rooms. Many facial injuries as well as oral injuries can be prevented easily with the use of sports safety equipment like helmets and mouthguards.
An estimated 12 million people aged five to 22 suffer a sport-related injury annually, which leads to 20 million lost days of school and approximately $33 billion in healthcare costs. Lots of these injuries could be prevented with protective gear. This is what National Facial Protection Month aims to achieve — the reduction of facial injuries that could have been avoided with protective gear.
A mouthguard protects against a variety of dental injuries, such as cracked, broken, or knocked-out teeth. According to the American Dental Association, mouthguards play an essential role in preventing up to 200 000 dental injuries each year, and many states mandate their use for sports activities such as football and hockey. Athletes who don’t wear mouthguards are 60 times more likely to damage their teeth than their counterparts. A minor blow to the face can leave you with abrasions and cuts inside your mouth from your soft tissue being pressed against the brackets and wires on your teeth
National Facial Protection Month timeline
The American Dental Association, the country’s largest dental association, is established, representing more than 161,000 dentist members.
The American Association of Orthodontists, the world’s oldest and largest dental specialty organization, is established, representing more than 18,000 orthodontist members.
The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons is established and represents more than 9,000 oral and maxillofacial surgeons
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the membership organization of the specialty of pediatric dentistry, is established.
The Academy for Sports Dentistry is established as a forum for dentists, dental technicians, doctors, coaches, athletic trainers, and educators for sharing ideas about sports dentistry and athletes’ dental needs.
How Businesses Can Celebrate National Facial Protection Month
Local businesses, especially dental practices, sports equipment stores, and youth sports organizations, can actively participate in National Facial Protection Month. Dental offices can offer free or discounted mouthguard fittings and educational seminars for local sports teams. Sporting goods retailers can highlight protective gear, offering promotions on helmets and mouthguards. Youth leagues can host ‘safety days’ with expert speakers and demonstrations on proper equipment use, emphasizing the importance of facial protection to parents and coaches. These efforts safeguard athletes and foster community goodwill.
National Facial Protection Month FAQs
When is National Facial Protection Month?
In 2027, National Facial Protection Month will again be observed throughout April. It serves as a crucial reminder for athletes, parents, and coaches to prioritize safety and proper protective gear.
How common are sports-related facial injuries?
Facial injuries, including dental trauma, jaw fractures, and soft tissue damage, account for a substantial percentage of all sports injuries annually. Experts consistently emphasize that a majority of these incidents are preventable through consistent use of appropriate protective equipment.
What types of protective gear are essential for facial protection?
For comprehensive facial protection, athletes should consider a range of equipment beyond just mouthguards. This can include full-face helmets for sports like hockey or football, polycarbonate face shields for lacrosse, and protective eyewear for racquet sports, all designed to absorb impact and prevent trauma.
Is facial protection mandatory in all youth sports?
The mandatory nature of facial protection depends heavily on the specific sport and governing body. While associations like the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) have guidelines, local youth leagues may have additional requirements, making it essential for parents and coaches to verify rules.
How to Observe National Facial Protection Month
Visit a dentist
Visit a dentist to check your oral health. This helps in detecting any problem that may arise in the future and also checking if you’re fit for some type of sports
Raise awareness
Raise awareness about the day by sharing posts on social media. This ensures others get to know about the day and be more cautious when engaging in sporting activities.
Play a sport
Celebrate the day by engaging in a sport, but with protective equipment. This encourages others to do so.
5 Common Head Injuries You Need To Know About
Hematoma
It is a collection, or clotting, of blood outside the blood vessels.
Hemorrhage
A hemorrhage means uncontrolled bleeding.
Concussion
It occurs when an impact on the head is severe enough to cause brain injury.
Edema
It simply means ‘swelling’ — many injuries cause swelling of the surrounding tissues, but it’s more serious when it occurs in the brain
Skull fracture
As the skull is very strong and difficult to break, a broken skull means it was unable to absorb the impact of a blow, making it more likely that there’ll also be damage to the brain.
Why National Facial Protection Month is Important
It raises awareness about sports-related injuries
National Facial Protection Month brings more eyes to the injuries faced during sporting activities. As more awareness is generated, more solutions would be developed to help reduce them.
It helps the economy
Preventing facial injuries to children helps the economy. If the rising number of injuries that need treatment gets reduced, it boosts the economy as fewer resources are used up.
It protects children’s future
Many facial injuries can cause long-term damage to a child. As children are encouraged to take up sports, National Facial Protection Month helps in protecting their future by helping them stay protected.
Social Media Tips for National Facial Protection Month
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