Sports & Exercise with Braces
Many people have played some kind of sport during their lifetime. Sports are a great way to exercise and stay healthy while having fun and meeting new people. Many people play sports during their childhood or teenage years, which also happens to be a primetime for braces too. One of the most common questions an orthodontist gets is “can I play sports while wearing braces?”
The short answer is yes! You can play sports with braces or other orthodontic appliances. In fact, some world-famous athletes such as Venus and Serena Williams, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Brett Favre all used to wear braces, and they didn’t let that stop them! All you have to do if you want to play sports with braces is to take good care of protecting your mouth, teeth, and braces.
Protecting Your Braces While Playing Sports
For people with braces who play sports, the #1 rule is to always use an orthodontic mouthguard to protect yourself. Orthodontic mouthguards are made from 100% medical-grade silicone specifically for people with braces. They are bigger than other mouthguards so that there’s extra room for the braces to fit. Normal mouthguards are usually made from harder plastic, so they can fit uncomfortably with braces and are more likely to cause cuts or injury from an impact.
Boil-and-bite mouthguards are a popular type of mouthguard, but these are not recommended for braces either because their shape can’t change after first use. Once your teeth start to shift and move from your braces the mouthguard will not fit correctly.
If Accidents Happen During Play
Even if you use an orthodontic mouthguard and take precautions, mouth injuries can still happen. In the event that you get hurt or your oral appliance is damaged make sure to give the Georgia School of Orthodontics a call. Depending on the severity of the injury, an emergency appointment may be necessary so that proper treatment is done as quickly as possible.
