Can You Play Sports With Braces in WA?
At Advanced Orthodontics, Dr. Todd Steinhart helps patients understand how orthodontic treatment can fit into sports and other activities. Whether you play on a team, join a recreational league, or enjoy activities where falls or collisions can happen, the right precautions can help you stay active during treatment.
Why Is a Mouthguard Important When You Have Braces?
A mouthguard helps protect your teeth and braces if you are hit in the mouth or face. During an impact, brackets and wires may press against your lips or cheeks. A stronger hit could loosen a bracket, bend a wire, or injure a tooth.
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends wearing a mouthguard with braces when you take part in activities where dental injuries can happen.
Fit matters because your teeth slowly move during treatment. A mouthguard that becomes too tight, loose, worn, or damaged may not protect your mouth as well. It may also feel uncomfortable.
Ask your orthodontist which type of mouthguard is right for your braces and the sport you play. You may need to replace it as your teeth move.
Which Sports Need Extra Protection With Braces?
Any sport or activity that can lead to contact with another player, equipment, a ball, or the ground may call for extra mouth protection. Football, basketball, soccer, hockey, lacrosse, wrestling, and martial arts are common examples.
Protection can also help during activities such as gymnastics, skateboarding, biking, or skating. These activities may not involve direct contact with another player, but a fall can still injure your mouth.
Having braces does not mean you need to stop taking part in these activities. Using the safety gear recommended for your sport and wearing a mouthguard that fits over your braces can help lower your risk of injury.
Check your mouthguard often. If it feels different, becomes damaged, or no longer fits well, ask your orthodontist if it should be replaced.
What Should You Do If Your Braces Are Hit or Damaged During Sports?
If you are hit in the mouth, check your teeth, lips, cheeks, brackets, and wires. Look for a loose bracket, bent or poking wire, swelling, bleeding, or a tooth that feels loose or looks out of place.
If a wire or bracket rubs the inside of your mouth, orthodontic wax may provide short-term relief. Contact your orthodontic office if your braces look damaged, even if you are not in pain. A loose bracket or bent wire may need to be fixed so treatment can stay on track.
A serious dental injury may need more care. A tooth that is badly damaged, knocked out, or moved out of position should be checked right away. Heavy bleeding or an injury to the jaw or face may also need urgent dental or medical care.
Sports do not usually delay orthodontic treatment. Delays are more likely when damaged braces are not repaired. Checking your braces after an impact and calling your orthodontic team when something is wrong can help keep treatment moving forward.
How Can Athletes Care for Their Teeth and Braces?
Good daily care can help protect your smile while you stay active. Brackets and wires create extra spaces where plaque and food can collect. Brush carefully around each bracket and along the gumline, and clean between your teeth every day.
Your mouthguard also needs regular care. Rinse and clean it after use, let it dry, and store it in a case. Replace it if it becomes cracked, worn, or no longer fits well.
Water is a good choice for hydration during practices and games. Sugary or acidic sports drinks can expose your teeth to more sugar and acid, especially around brackets.
It can also help to keep a small orthodontic care kit in your sports bag. Orthodontic wax, a toothbrush, toothpaste, and your usual cleaning tools can be useful during tournaments, away games, or long practice days.
Keep going to your regular orthodontic visits. Your orthodontic team can check how your braces are working and answer questions about protecting your smile as treatment continues.
Ready to Stay Active With Braces?
Braces do not have to keep you on the sidelines. With the right mouth protection, good daily care, and a plan for handling bumps or injuries, you can keep enjoying many of the sports and activities that are part of your life.
At Advanced Orthodontics, Dr. Steinhart can help you understand how braces may fit into your routine and how to protect your teeth while staying active. If concerns about sports have made you unsure about orthodontic treatment, an evaluation can help you know what to expect before you begin.
Find your nearest Advanced Orthodontics office: Bellevue, Kent, Burien, Everett, or Mercer Island. Schedule a consultation to find out whether braces are right for you and how orthodontic treatment can fit into your active lifestyle.
Frequently Asked Questions
These short answers cover common questions about playing sports with braces.
Do you need a mouthguard for every sport with braces?
Not always. A mouthguard is especially important for sports where contact, falls, or hits to the face are more likely.
What should you do if a wire starts poking after a game?
Orthodontic wax may help cover the area temporarily. Contact your orthodontic office if the wire stays uncomfortable or appears bent.
Can a sports injury damage a tooth even if your braces are fine?
Yes. A hit to the mouth can injure a tooth even when the brackets and wires look normal, so watch for pain, looseness, or swelling.
Can sports make braces treatment take longer?
Usually not. Treatment may be interrupted if a bracket or wire is damaged and not repaired.
How often should you check your mouthguard during treatment?
Check it regularly for wear, cracks, or changes in fit. As your teeth move, you may need a replacement.