Can I Play Sports with Braces?
June 19, 2021 9:59 pmIf you or your child have braces, you might be wondering if it’s safe to participate in sports. Yes! But you must take precautions to protect your mouth from injury and your braces from damage.
How to Protect Your Smile When Playing Sports
For all patients that play a contact sport, it’s important to use proper safety equipment. This includes a sports mouthguard to protect your teeth from chips and cracks, and from being knocked out completely.
Patients with braces should wear an orthodontic mouthguard to protect your cheeks, lips, teeth, and braces from potential trauma. We recommend wearing an orthodontic mouthguard even if your sport isn’t a traditional contact sport. You never know when you’ll want added protection from the ground, sports equipment, or other participants, all of which can cause damage to your smile and braces.
What Is an Orthodontic Mouthguard?
An orthodontic mouthguard is composed of soft, flexible silicone. It is placed over your teeth and braces to and serve as a buffer between them and your lips. Because they are stretchy and forgiving, they slide right over your braces and give both the wires and brackets additional protection. Even though they’re spacier than a traditional mouthguard, orthodontic mouthguards offer the same amount of comfort and protection so you can focus on performing your very best come game time.
Benefits of Orthodontic Treatment
Protecting your braces will allow your orthodontic treatment to progress as planned. This will allow your teeth to reach their desired positions in as minimal time as possible. Completing your orthodontic treatment will bring many benefits, including but not limited to:
- Improving the overall look of teeth
- Enhancing ability to speak clearly and chew food properly
- Decreasing chances of decay by making brushing and flossing easier, reducing cavities, and reducing gum disease
- Making teeth feel comfortable in the mouth
- Reduce likelihood of chipping or wearing down of teeth
If you are interested in an orthodontic mouthguard to participate in sports, please contact Meason Orthodontics!
Categorised in: Orthodontic Tips
