How to safely play sports with braces on: Precautionary steps

While you can continue to lead a normal life even with braces on, what happens when you want to join a rugby or basketball team?

Many people wonder how they can safely engage in sports while wearing braces. Do you have to wait until your orthodontic treatment is over? Are there any safety precautions you can take? This article will answer these important questions.

The risk of not protecting yourself

In most cases, you can still play a wide variety of sports even with braces on. The key is taking adequate safety precautions to avoid injury. The most common solution involves wearing a specially designed mouthguard that will protect your braces.

Without taking adequate precautions, the potential risks you can face are significant. For example, being knocked in the mouth (while wearing braces without protection) can result in bleeding gums and fractured teeth. Furthermore, the damage is made worse by the braces themselves. The metals can get stuck between your lips, gums, and teeth, causing lots of damage to your mouth.

The solution: Orthodontic mouthguards

Luckily, you can protect your braces by wearing an orthodontic mouthguard before you hit the field. These mouthguards are made of a special silicone material that's comfortable to wear. Silicone also absorbs impact and prevents your braces from bumping against your teeth, gums, or lips.

You will notice that an orthodontic mouthguard is larger and covers a bigger area of your mouth. This is because it's designed to protect your braces, gums, teeth, and jaws. Orthodontic mouthguards also allow your braces to remain tightly in position as you engage in sports. Furthermore, as your teeth continue to adjust to orthodontic treatment, these flexible mouthguards will continue to fit perfectly in your mouth.

How to care for the mouthguard

Before running onto the field, make sure your orthodontic mouthguard is tightly fitted in your mouth. Because of the comfortable silicone material, you won't feel any discomfort as you play. After each use, clean the mouthguard with an anti-bacterial solution. You can also brush it with toothpaste to remove stubborn debris.

Most dentists advise that you clean the mouthguard before and after every sporting session. This will ensure that your teeth remain free of germs and bacteria. When wearing braces, your teeth should always remain free from plaque, stains, and other debris (so you can enjoy better treatment results).

In conclusion, an orthodontic mouthguard helps you remain active and healthy, even with braces on your teeth.

Share