One of the best ways to prevent injury and save thousands of dollars in dental work is to wear a properly-fitted mouthguard while playing sports. Athletic mouthguards are simple pieces of protective gear that help protect the teeth and mouth from significant damage. Mouthguards are available for purchase at most sporting goods and retail stores, and are a great option for protecting teeth and reducing a young athlete’s risk of concussion, as they are created specifically for each athlete’s unique needs. The Appalachian Orthodontics of Lynchburg team considers many factors, including age, sport, and dental history when suggesting mouthguard options to a patient and their family.
Why Are Mouthguards Important To Wear With Braces?
While a mouthguard is always an important part of an athlete’s uniform, it is extra important to wear one if you have braces. This is due to the fact that the soft tissue in your mouth is more susceptible to damage if someone hits you in the face. The metal braces and brackets can shred your gums and perhaps even break through your lips and cheeks. This is incredibly painful and could potentially cause some permanent scarring. The best way to avoid this from happening is to simply cover your braces with a mouthguard. The mouthguard is made out of a durable material that creates a solid barrier between your braces and your gums.
How Do I Choose The Best Mouthguard?
In order for your mouthguard to work the way that it should, it is important that you choose one with care. There are three questions that you should ask yourself when choosing the right mouthguard to wear with braces:
- Does the mouthguard feel comfortable in your mouth?
- Is the mouthguard too bulky?
- How much room does the mouthguard give for your teeth to move?
If your mouthguard does not feel comfortable in your mouth, then you likely aren’t going to wear it. It is distracting when trying to play sports, and could even cause you some pain. Some mouthguards that are made specifically for people with braces are extra bulky. This is due to the fact that the mouthguard is made larger to encompass the braces as well as the teeth. However, if the mouthguard is too bulky for the wearer’s mouth, this entirely defeats the purpose because the mouthguard will likely not fit inside. However in most cases you can simply cut off parts of the mouthguard to make it fit your mouth-just make sure that all your teeth and brackets are covered by the mouthguard. It is important to purchase a mouthguard that is labelled “for orthodontics.” This label means that the mouthguard is designed to be worn during orthodontic treatment with either traditional braces or Invisalign clear trays and it is not made to be “molded” to one’s teeth. This also means that it will allow your teeth to shift into their new position while wearing braces. For patients who need to wear elastics, there are also specific mouthguards that allow the athlete to wear the elastics while wearing the mouth-guard.
Dr. Elena Black of Appalachian Orthodontics of Lynchburg recommends that all of her athlete orthodontic patients wear a mouthguard while practicing and playing. If you have questions about mouth guards, feel free to ask us for a recommendation during your next appointment or virtual consultation. We are always happy to help! And most of the time we have mouthguard available in our office so just stop by and pick up one in your favorite color.