Undergoing orthodontic treatment does not require that you put sports on hold. On the contrary, many athletes continue with workouts and games while wearing braces. A brisk blow to the mouth could leave you with severe cuts inside your mouth, but you can easily protect yourself from injury by wearing an athletic mouthguard specially designed to fit over braces.
The American Dental Association recommends that all athletes wear mouthguards and states that this is especially important for people who wear orthodontic braces. In addition to causing injury to the patient’s mouth, a blow to the face can damage brackets and wires. Furthermore, the ADA reminds orthodontic patients no to wear a retainer or any other removable appliance, other than a mouthguard, when playing contact sports.
Sports Mouthguards for Braces
If you like, Dr. Cabal can design a custom athletic mouthguard to fit over your braces. However, if you prefer an over-the-counter model, Shock Doctor, a popular brand of athletic mouthguards, offers a model that is large to accommodate the bulk of braces. This guard is comfortable, as well. It protects from oral lacerations, jaw joint and jaw injury, tooth injury, and it absorbs shock to the jaw that may otherwise lead to a concussion.
Cleaning Your Mouthguard
Regardless of whether you’re wearing braces, you should clean your mouthguard after every use. Use a soft brush and soapy water to gently scrub the appliance or soak it in mouthwash. Be sure to dry your mouthguard thoroughly before storing it in its protective case. If you’re worried about forgetting your mouthguard, purchase two. After use, put the clean guard in your sports bag. This way, you will always have one being cleaned and dried and the other ready for use with your other gear.
Need Braces?
If you’re considering orthodontic treatment, call Lake Country Orthodontics for a consultation with Dr. Cabal. Our Lake Worth orthodontist office caters to kids, teens, and adults. Call 817-236-7846 today. We proudly offer services for patients from Lake Wort, Lake Country, Lakeland, Highlands, and Saginaw.
