Can I Play Sports With Braces?

If you just got your braces, your orthodontist has probably already told you that you need to protect your braces, since any kind of impact that hits your braces could dislodge a bracket, bend a wire, or cause other damage. For the athletes out there, you're probably thinking to yourself that you won't be able to play sports now that you have your braces, since contact is pretty common whether its intentional or accidental. The good news is that you don't have to stop playing sports with braces, but you will need to take some precautions to make sure you protect you braces, teeth, and mouth from any injuries.

How To Protect Your Braces When Playing

At The Braces Place, we want to make sure that you finish your orthodontic treatment with nothing less than the perfect smile, and to do that, we need to make sure that you teeth and braces are protected when you're playing any sport. The best way to do this is with a mouthguard, but not your traditional mouthguard. Instead, you'll be using a special orthodontic mouthguard.

What Is The Difference Between Normal & Orthodontic Mouthguards?

Traditional mouthguards are typically designed to be custom fitted to your teeth by creating a mold after they've been boiled in hot water. While this would normally be enough to keep your teeth protected, it doesn't account for the fact that your teeth won't be staying in the same place. As soon as you set your mouthguard, your braces will cause your teeth to move and it will not longer fit or protect your teeth properly.

Orthodontic mouthguards are designed just for those with braces, with special channels that fit around braces and allow freedom of movement for your teeth. They also have extra protection under your lips that blocks your braces from coming into contact with your lips in the case of an impact. Without this protection, the skin of your lips can be caught in the brackets which is not only very painful, but also needs to be fixed by your orthodontist.

Do I Need A Mouthguard For Non-Contact Sports?

While mouthguards are usually required or recommended for contact sports like football, soccer, and hockey, other non-contact sports could still pose a risk for damaging your braces. For example, baseball is a non-contact sport, but accidentally getting hit with a ball or running into another player could damage your braces. Just ask your orthodontist if he would recommend that you get a mouthguard for your sport or activity.  

Contact The Braces Place With Your Questions