mouthguards
photo courtesy of AAO

Mouthguards and Playing Sports with Braces

Great News…You can still play sports while undergoing orthodontic treatment! If you do play sports, we recommend that you wear a mouthguard in order to protect your teeth and your braces. Sports-related injuries to the mouth and jaw are one of the most common injuries suffered by athletes. When you have braces, it is essential that you protect your smile while playing sports. Mouthguards help protect your teeth and gums from injury. When your braces are placed, we will provide you with an orthodontic mouth guard. Do not use the boil and bite mouthguards, as they may get stuck to your braces and you will have great difficulty removing it.

In case of a sports emergency, be sure to check your mouth, teeth and braces immediately for any damage that may have occurred. If you notice any loose teeth, or if your braces and/or wires have been damaged, please contact our office right away. You can temporarily get relief to any discomfort by using wax or rinsing your mouth with warm salt water.