When safety meets your smile – Why a mouthguard is crucial for playing sports with braces

Sports are an essential component in maintaining overall health and fitness for adults and teens. However, over 3,000,000 teeth are knocked out during sporting events each year. If you’re considering braces, you may be wondering: will playing sports with braces put my teeth at risk? Keep reading to learn practical tips for playing sports with braces.

Participating in Sports with Braces

• One of the primary concerns of playing sports with braces is the increased risk of injury to your lips, gums, and cheeks. The risk doubles, particularly in contact sports such as football, basketball, or hockey. The force from a ball, stick, or opposing player can harm the braces or surrounding oral tissues.

In addition to the immediate discomfort or injury, any damage to your braces can disrupt your treatment timeline or affect the progress achieved so far. A small incident could result in several months of additional treatment.

Tips for Protecting Braces

• Follow these tips to protect your teeth against knocks and prevent damage to the braces.

Use Athletic Mouthguards

• In sports, whether full-contact or partial-contact, there is always a risk of collisions when running with teammates and opponents. Damage to your braces resulting from these collisions can be painful and expensive. While accidents may be unavoidable, you can reduce the risk to your braces and teeth by using an appropriate mouth guard. If you already have an athletic mouthguard, it may no longer fit properly during orthodontic treatment.

Braces, with their brackets and wires, require additional space in the mouth, making existing mouthguards impossible to use. Anyone involved in contact sports must wear a properly fitting mouthguard. Customized mouthguards tailored to a person’s orthodontic needs can be made. Alternatively, you can use specific brands of mouthguards that are suitable for use during orthodontic treatment. However, it is advisable to discuss the options with your orthodontist first.

The Role of a Mouthguard

• A mouthguard acts as a protective barrier between your mouth and any object or individual that may cause impact. When braces are damaged, there is also the potential for further injury to your mouth, including cuts and abrasions from broken braces. However, with a protective mouthguard, it is feasible to participate in any sport you like without the risk of injury.

Use All Necessary Protective Gear

• While an athletic mouthguard is crucial, it’s advisable to use all necessary protective gear specific to your sport. Engaging in physical activities without wearing complete protective gear is not wise.

Although a mouthguard protects your teeth, cheeks, and tongue, as well as brackets and wires, it cannot protect all other parts of your body. Therefore, it is imperative to wear a mouthguard with all other essential safety gear for optimal protection.

Stay Focused on the Game

• Being attentive is crucial when participating in sports. As an orthodontic patient, it’s essential to take extra precautions to prevent facial impacts. By avoiding risky situations on the field, you can minimize the likelihood of painful injuries and the need for time-consuming orthodontic repairs.

Be Cautious Even If You Are a Spectator

• Being a spectator at a sporting event doesn’t guarantee protection from potential injuries. Individuals wearing braces in the stands should exercise caution. It’s common for balls and sporting equipment to fly into the crowd during games or competitions.

Those who are not attentive may get struck and injured. If you are wearing braces, ensure to raise your hands to protect your face if you spot a ball or sports equipment heading your way.

At Icon Dental Orthodontics, you will find the most comfortable and convenient braces designed for teenagers with orthodontic problems. To help your teen achieve the perfect smile, visit our clinic today. For consultations or bookings, call us at (206) 225-2882 for Seattle and (425) 337-2400 for Everett appointments.