Now that spring is in full swing and summer is just around the corner, many of us are looking forward to going outside and enjoying some of our favorite sports! However, if you’ll be spending this season straightening your teeth with traditional braces, you may be wondering if you need to give up some of your favorite summertime activities. Thankfully, kids, teens, and adults alike can safely enjoy all their favorite sports and physical activities while wearing braces as long as they take the right precautions. Here’s what you need to do to keep your smile safe while playing sports with braces.
Protect Your Smile with an Orthodontic Mouthguard
The best way to keep yourself safe while playing sports with braces is to wear an orthodontic mouthguard. These silicone, u-shaped appliances look like slightly larger versions of regular athletic mouthguards. However, they’re specifically designed to fit over a person’s braces as well as their teeth. Should you take a blow to the face, an orthodontic mouthguard will keep your teeth from crashing into one another or your soft tissues. Not only will this lower your risk of broken, bent braces, but it will minimize your chances of experiencing serious lacerations and fractured teeth.
Orthodontic Mouthguards Vs Boil-and-Bite Mouthguards
While looking for the best orthodontic mouthguard for you or your child, you may come across “boil-and-bite” mouthguards. These appliances are usually much less expensive and can be found at your local pharmacy or athletic store. However, they could easily cost you much more time, effort, and damage in the long run! These mouthguards are not designed to adequately protect your teeth in the presence of braces. In addition to limited protection, these mouthguards will quickly lose their fit as your teeth begin to move according to your orthodontic treatment. Investing in a custom-made orthodontic mouthguard is the best way to protect your teeth and keep your treatment on track while enjoying your favorite sports.
What to Do If You Get Injured
An orthodontic mouthguard will significantly lower your risk of oral injury while being active, but accidents still happen. If you sustain an injury while wearing braces, give your orthodontist a call as soon as you can. Even if your teeth or braces appear uninjured, there may be hidden damage that needs to be treated right away. Your orthodontist will assess the severity of your situation over the phone and determine whether an emergency appointment is needed. However, if you experience bleeding that hasn’t stopped after 10 minutes, you should go directly to your local ER.
Thankfully, you can dramatically lower your risk of an emergency by using an orthodontic mouthguard! A custom-made orthodontic mouthguard from your orthodontist will help you feel confident and stay safe as you play sports with braces.
About the Practice
Dr. Jaime Moon of Super Braces of Worcester has been helping smiles stay happy and healthy for over 13 years. As a board-certified orthodontist, she is proud to offer a wide array of orthodontic services to help her patients overcome crooked teeth and misaligned bites in a way that’s best for them. If you’re interested in traditional braces, she’ll be with you every step of the way to provide personalized advice, recommendations, and appliances to ensure your journey towards a straighter smile is as smooth and pleasant as possible. To learn more, she can be contacted online or at (508) 755-2207.