Braces and Sports: How to Protect Your Smile During Athletic Activities

Montclair is home to plenty of young athletes, and having braces shouldn’t mean sitting on the sidelines. Whether your child plays soccer, basketball, lacrosse, or another sport, there are simple ways to keep both their braces and their smile protected during athletic activities.

Why Mouthguards Matter More With Braces

Any contact sport — and even some non-contact ones — carries a risk of facial impact. Without a mouthguard, a blow to the face can damage brackets and wires, or in more serious cases, injure the lips, cheeks, and gums against the braces themselves. A properly fitted mouthguard acts as a cushion, absorbing impact and protecting both the orthodontic appliances and the soft tissue of the mouth.

Choosing the Right Mouthguard

Not all mouthguards are created equal, especially for athletes in braces. Options include:

Boil-and-bite mouthguards: Affordable and moldable at home, though may need more frequent replacement as teeth shift during treatment
Custom orthodontic mouthguards: Designed specifically to accommodate braces and can be adjusted or replaced as treatment progresses
Standard stock mouthguards: Generally not recommended for braces patients, as they don’t mold to accommodate brackets and wires

Dr. Papasikos can recommend the best mouthguard option based on your child’s sport, treatment stage, and specific orthodontic appliances.

Handling a Sports-Related Orthodontic Emergency

Even with precautions, accidents happen. If your child experiences a sports injury while wearing braces, here’s what to do:

Broken or loose bracket: Cover any sharp edges with orthodontic wax and call our office to schedule a repair.
Cut lip or cheek from a wire: Rinse with warm salt water and apply wax to the affected wire.
Knocked-out tooth or serious injury: Seek emergency dental or medical care immediately, then follow up with our office.
Poking wire: Use the eraser end of a pencil to gently push the wire down, then cover with wax until you can be seen.

Keep a small orthodontic emergency kit in your child’s sports bag, including wax, a small mirror, and our office phone number.

Communicating with Coaches

It’s a good idea to let coaches and athletic staff know your child has braces, especially at the start of a new season. This helps ensure they’re aware of the importance of mouthguard use and know how to respond if a minor injury occurs during practice or a game.

Non-Contact Sports and Activities

Even swimmers, runners, and gymnasts should consider protective measures if there’s any risk of falls or collisions. Better safe than sorry — a mouthguard is a small investment compared to the cost and discomfort of an orthodontic repair or dental injury.

Staying Active During Treatment

The good news: with the right precautions, there’s no reason for young athletes to slow down during orthodontic treatment. Braces and sports can absolutely coexist with a little preparation.

Questions About Protecting Your Child’s Smile?

Our Montclair team is happy to recommend the best mouthguard options for your child’s specific sport and treatment plan, and to handle any sports-related orthodontic emergencies quickly.

Call Papasikos Orthodontics at 973-744-2511 or visit 55 Park Street, Montclair, NJ 07042 — we’ll help keep your young athlete’s smile safe all season long.