Braces don’t have to interfere with anyone’s life. You can undergo orthodontic treatment and go about your daily life, work, and play without worrying about interruption. If you or your child is an athlete, though, extra precautions may be necessary to take care of your smile. For those who want to play hard without worrying about their braces, there are several ways to protect your teeth.
Possible Complications of Braces and Sports
Facial injuries are always possible when playing sports, but the risk goes up when someone sports braces. Any of the following could lead to dental or orthodontic emergencies because of the damage caused to the braces or to a patient’s gums, lips, or cheeks:
- Collide with another player
- Get hit in the mouth
- Fall or get knocked over
- Scratch soft tissues with hardware
Athletes with Braces Must Be Prepared for Orthodontic Emergencies
Even if an athlete is taking precautions during sports games and practices, a braces-related emergency could still occur. This goes for adult braces wearers as well as teens.
- Be ready with an emergency braces sports kit.
- Include orthodontic wax, tissues, wipes, hand sanitizer, and a small mirror.
- Temporarily secure any loose or dislodged brackets and wires with wax.
- See your orthodontist as soon as possible for major mouth injuries or orthodontic damage.
- Remember that the mouth bleeds a lot – that doesn’t always mean the problem is dire.
Discuss Safety Gear with Your Orthodontist
Children and teens who love to play sports don’t want anything to interrupt their time on the field, court, rink, or otherwise. Anyone involved in a contact sport and on track to get braces must have a conversation with their orthodontist about keeping teeth, brackets, and wires safe during game play.
- Get an orthodontic mouthguard. Ask your orthodontist about options for a customized orthodontic mouthguard that protects braces and teeth. Over-the-counter options are not foolproof and could do more damage because they are not fitted properly in a mouth where teeth are shifting all the time. The right mouthguard reduces the risk of injury.
- All protective gear is not created equal. Remember that if you wear a helmet or face shield for your sport, that isn’t always enough to take care of your teeth and braces. It is, however, an indication that head injuries are common in that sport and efforts to protect your mouth are important too.
- Consider new sports. Anyone who is indifferent to what type of sport they play as long as they’re moving can consider solo sporting or low-impact games while under orthodontic treatment, like swimming, gymnastics, biking, track and field, or tennis.
Communicate with Your Orthodontist
Let your orthodontist know what sports you play and take their advice seriously when it comes to tending to your teeth. Your braces – whether you opt for metal, clear, or Invisalign – are an investment and a process that will pay off for a lifetime. However, getting injured and having your hardware take the brunt of it can leave you with dental damage and soft tissue injuries that could take you out of the game for a long time.
Contact Lawrenceville Orthodontics in Lawrenceville or Philadelphia to learn more about orthodontic mouthguards for athletes.