Sports & Wearing Braces: What You Need to Know

Orthodontic mouthguards help to protect your braces and teeth while playing sports.

Some people give up their sports hobbies because they use braces. This, however, shouldn’t be the case as you can use orthodontic mouth guards to protect your braces and teeth while playing;

Orthodontic Mouth Guards

Unlike regular mouth guards, an orthodontic mouth guard is larger and fits around braces and teeth to keep them safe from impact when you’re participating in intense sports. Orthodontic mouth guards also differ from regular mouth guards as they are made of silicon which provides soft padding so that the brackets do not scrape against it.

Where to Buy Orthodontic Mouth Guards

While you could buy orthodontic mouth guards from pharmacies and chemists, you cannot be sure of their fit as you would if you got a customized one from your orthodontist. Though they might be relatively more expensive, they offer the best comfort which is necessary for most athletes.

What to do if Your Orthodontic Mouth Guard Becomes Ineffective

As braces alter the position of the teeth, the orthodontic mouth guards might be ineffective or uncomfortable after some time. For this reason, you could opt for boil-and-bite mouth guards. Though these are quite expensive, they can be remolded through heating to adapt to the new teeth’s position.   

Caring for Your Orthodontic Mouth Guard

A mouth guard should be cared for in the same way you take care of your teeth and braces. Clean your mouthguard before and after using it to deter bacteria growth. You could either clean it with your regular toothbrush and toothpaste or rinse it with an antimicrobial mouthwash solution to kill germs.

What to do in Case of an Injury

In spite of the orthodontic mouth guard, you might still get injured. Should this happen, contact us immediately and schedule an emergency appointment.

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