Now that you’re wearing braces, does that mean you have to stay on the sidelines this season until your treatment is done?
We have good news for every sports player out there: your orthodontic treatment won’t stop you from playing your favorite sports. You just have to wear a mouthguard!
It’s a good thing to be concerned about protecting your mouth during sports when you invest time, energy and money into your beautiful new smile.
Can you wear a mouthguard with braces? You absolutely can and should!
Here’s what you need to know about protecting your smile-in-progress without sacrificing any touchdowns on the field.
Protect your smile with a mouth guard for braces
Most sports have at least some risk of injury, including impacts to the mouth that may be forceful enough to chip or knock out a tooth or two.
Football (along with soccer and basketball) is one of the riskiest sports when it comes to your teeth. Wearing an orthodontic mouthguard during practices and games can prevent another person’s elbow, knee or head from damaging your teeth.
We don’t want you to have to give up your passions! No professional orthodontist would suggest that you give up your favorite sport while wearing braces. However, they all recommend orthodontic mouth guards and deem these as an essential safety precaution.
All it takes is one bad fall, a face colliding with a high-speed football, or another player’s body part to put you at risk of an emergency visit to Dr. Senties.
How to mold a mouthguard with braces
Mouthguards are for teens, adults, and children. Mouthguards, especially custom mouthguards, can fit snugly on your smile, and protect your teeth from impact.
There are a few main types of orthodontic mouthguards for sports, including boil-and-bite, custom-fitted and stock mouthguards.
Stock mouthguards are one-size-fits-all mouthguards that are relatively easy to put in place and take out, but are generally bulkier and are the least protective type of mouthguard.
With a boil-and-bite mouthguard, you mold it to fit your teeth. Made of thermoplastic material, boil-and-bite mouthguards soften when they’re warmed with lukewarm water. You can then bite into the mouthguard to shape it to your teeth.
Custom-fitted mouthguards are the most comfortable mouthguards and the most expensive. These ones are custom-designed to fit your unique smile.
You should always wear a mouthguard when playing contact sports, even if you don’t have braces! Not all types of mouthguards described above work for patients that have braces on. Depending on the specific sport you play and what level of impact you generally experience when you’re playing, one type of mouthguard may be better suited for you. You can discuss it with us and we can help you decide which type is best for you!
Still have questions about playing sports with braces?
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us with any questions! We love to hear from you. We’re here to guide you through your treatment process, from your very first visit, to your last appointment.
If you’re looking for a top orthodontist in San Antonio, TX, we’d love to meet you! Request a complimentary exam for you or your child today.
