(HealthDay News) — From climbing on the playground to playing in a soccer game, children are prone to getting minor cuts and wounds to the mouth.

Most of these injuries can be handled with simple first aid, says the University of Rochester Medical Center. Although most are easy to care for, mouth injuries can be avoided.

To prevent mouth injuries, the school encourages parents to:

  • Teach children never to walk or run with an object in the mouth.
  • Teach children not to suck or chew on hard, sharp or pointed objects.
  • Have your child wear a mouthguard for any sport that poses a threat of injury.
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