If you play sports, wear braces, or both it's important that you have a mouthguard.
If you already have braces then, you have already had to accommodate a few aspects of your lifestyle to meet the needs of your treatment including changes to your oral hygiene routine and diet.
But, if you participate in sporting activities you will have to make another change in order to help protect your oral health.
Our orthodontists usually ask our patients with braces to limit their athletic participation to lower the impact sports could have during their treatment (if possible). This lessens the risk of injury or damage to the braces. But, we realize this solution isn't the best for everyone.
If you wish to continue playing high-impact sports during your orthodontic treatment, you will have to wear a sports mouthguard to help keep your braces, jaws gums, and teeth safe from damage.
Despite this fact, you will require a mouthguard for playing any impact sports whether you are wearing braces or not, however, the presence of braces in your mouth increases your risk.
Braces are made from small pieces of metal, which could put you at a greater risk for lacerations and injuries to the soft tissue of your mouth if you get hit in the head or face. Also, it's expensive to repair damaged braces, and damage can lead to setbacks in your treatment.
Finally, you need to realize that as your teeth shift into their new positions during orthodontic treatment, they can slightly loosen; they aren't as securely set in your jaw as they normally would be. Meaning, if you experience an impact on your head or face, you have a higher risk of getting a tooth knocked out.
Wearing a mouthguard helps protect your mouth, teeth, and other facial structures, and minimizes your risk of injury.
What type of sports mouthguard should I get?
You can get fairly inexpensive stock or boil and bite mouthguards at almost any sporting goods store, although, when it comes to mouthguards, you are getting what you pay for.
While they are more costly, custom-made mouthguards protect your mouth and braces better. A custom mouthguard is made based on molds taken of your teeth and therefore gives the best fit, comfort, and protection.