Protecting Your Smile and Braces Playing Sports

Protecting Your Smile and Braces Playing Sports

By admin September 27th
Sports are a great way for kids to stay active, make new friends, and have fun. Multiple studies have shown the positive influences that sports can have on a child’s health, development, and success later in life. Many kids get braces around 8-14, right at the prime ages of children’s sports, and many parents wonder if they will be able to safely play sports with braces.

Good news! As long as you protect your mouth and braces, your child can keep playing sports with no worries. In fact, some all-time great athletes like Brett Favre, Dwight Howard, and Venus & Serena Williams all had braces. No matter what sport your child plays, the number one rule of playing sports with braces is simple: wear an orthodontic mouthguard to keep your mouth and braces safe.

Protect Your Braces with Orthodontic Mouthguards
1. Orthodontic Mouthguards Are Designed Specifically for Braces
  
  Regular mouthguards aren’t a good choice for people with braces. During orthodontic treatment, teeth and bones shift, which causes regular mouthguards to not fit properly after a few days. This makes “boil and bite” mouthguards an especially bad choice for people with braces because their shape can’t change after you first use them. As your bite pattern changes, the mouthguard won’t be able to adjust, which can cause bleeding gums, mouth soreness, and a lack of proper protection from impacts.
  
  Orthodontic mouthguards are the best choice for athletes with braces because they’re made especially for braces. They are slightly bigger than regular mouthguards so that there’s extra room for your braces, and they’re made from 100% medical-grade silicone, so there’s soft and durable. This makes them slightly more “cushiony” than other mouthguards, which can help soften an impact.
  
  Even though they’re slightly bulkier than regular mouthguards, many people say that their orthodontic mouthguards are more comfortable than regular ones! Some brands are even designed to adjust to the movement of your teeth during orthodontic treatment so that you don’t have to purchase new mouthguards as your bite pattern shifts during the course of your orthodontic treatment.
2. They Can Prevent Common Mouth Injuries from Sports
  
  Most sports that use a ball of some sort, contact sports, or martial arts carry the risk of injury. Wearing any type of mouthguard can prevent mouth injuries from getting hit in the face by a ball or another player, but orthodontic mouthguards offer extra protection for players with braces. Common mouth injuries from sports include:
  - Cut lips, cheeks, or tongue
  - Chipped or broken teeth
  - Loosened or Knocked-out teeth
  - Teeth pushed into the gums
  - Damaged or broken braces
3. What to Do in Case of a Mouth Injury or Emergency
  
  Even when wearing an orthodontic mouthguard, accidents and injuries can happen. If you do get injured, examine the injured area carefully. Mouth injuries often have a lot of blood, so make sure to rinse and clean up as best as possible. If the bleeding doesn’t stop or if you’re in a lot of pain, go to the emergency room.
  
  If your braces have been damaged, make sure to give us a call ASAP. We may need to schedule an emergency appointment to fix your braces and look for anything else that may need repairs. If you’ve had a tooth knocked loose or broken, you may need to see one of our oral surgeons for treatment.
Protecting your braces while playing sports is important, but making sure that you’re receiving the best orthodontic treatment possible will set you up for the big win. At Elko Dental Specialists, our orthodontic experts have teamed up with pediatric dentists, oral surgeons, endodontists, prosthodontists, and periodontists to create a dental super-team living under one roof. We’re fully staffed and equipped to provide for all of your family’s oral care needs, and having all of our specialists in one location means you won’t have to drive all over Northern Nevada for treatment. To see how we can serve you and your family, give us a call at (775) 753-6118; or get in touch with us online today.
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