If you play extreme sports or high impact sports then you want to make sure you do all you can to protect your teeth from injury. You should bring a small emergency dental kit with you. This way, you'll have the items you need to both protect your teeth and take care of them quickly and properly should they sustain an injury. Below you'll find information on the 5 must-have oral items you should have with you when you play sports:

1. A Mouth Guard

You want to be sure you have a mouth guard and that you wear it the whole time you are participating in sports. While you can purchase mouth guards in a sporting goods store, the best way to know you have a good mouth guard is to get it from your dentist. This way, you know it is properly fitted and made of the best material possible.

2. Pain Relievers

You should have pain relievers with you in case your mouth sustains an injury. This way, you can take something right away to help take the pain of the injury away. Make sure you check the date on your pain relievers every once in a while and replace them once they start nearing their expiration date. If you become injured, you want to take one right away since they will take a few minutes to start working.

3. Gauze

You want to be sure you have some sealed gauze in your emergency dental kit. If you happen to have your tooth knocked out while you are playing, you want to immediately put the tooth back in place, bite down firmly on the gauze with the affected tooth and get to an oral surgeon immediately. This is the best way to increase your chances of being able to keep that tooth.

4. An Ice Pack

You can purchase an ice pack that you activate when you need it by squeezing it. You want to put this type of ice pack in your emergency dental kit in case of injury. If you do get injured, you want to activate the ice pack and hold it to your cheek where the affected tooth is. This will help you with the pain and help to decrease the amount of swelling you experience.

5. Orthodontic Wax

Even if you don't have braces, you should include orthodontic wax in your dental kit. If you happen to lose a filling, you can use the wax to cover the gap until you can get in to see the oral surgeon.

Make sure you bring your emergency dental kit with you to every game and every practice. You may want to keep it in your equipment bag or in your car so you don't forget it.