Sports are awesome for kids and adults, but you need a critical piece of protective equipment. Our team at Clauss Orthodontics is here to tell you how mouthguards prevent dental injuries during sports.
How Your Braces Work
When it comes to risks of damage, having braces can make a big difference. These classic appliances consist of various parts that can be more likely to damage.
- Brackets: These small, square-shaped fixtures are attached to your teeth during treatment.
- Wires: Wires apply pressure on the teeth and connect the brackets to guide them into alignment. Our team will adjust these regularly.
- Elastics: We can attach rubber bands to brackets to apply additional force to specific teeth as needed.
Sorting Out Different Sports
Mouthguards are absolutely essential when playing sports, regardless of whether you’ve received orthodontic treatment. But having braces makes them especially important! Here are some different categories of sports and how mouthguards are integrated.
- Contact Sports:
- Basketball involves fairly regular physical contact, and there is always a risk of falling or colliding with the ball, so protecting your teeth applies here.
- Football possesses an even higher risk of impact, making it essential for players with braces to wear mouthguards.
- Hockey players are usually provided with full-face masks or additional shielding for extra protection, but wearing a mouthguard is still vital due to the especially severe player and puck-related injuries. Hockey is one of the riskiest sports to play when it comes to keeping your teeth safe.
- Combat Sports:
- Boxing can involve direct blows to the mouth and necessitate the use of mouthguards.
- Wrestling and All martial arts disciplines, such as karate, taekwondo, and judo, require this level of personal protection against strikes and impacts, many of which can be accidental.
- Non-Contact Sports
- Swimming is generally quite safe, but it’s essential to be careful when working in a pool. For example, consider a mouthguard during practice if you specialize in diving.
- Cycling is typically a low-impact sport, but accidents do happen. A mouthguard can be a good asset if you’re participating in any sort of long-distance race/event with many other bikers or even just riding around a high-traffic area.
- Running is pretty low-risk for those with braces, so wearing a mouthguard during certain training sessions can be a smart idea.
- Racquet Sports
- Tennis players are at risk of being impacted by the ball or racquet during matches and practice. Like hockey, the velocity associated with such injuries can increase their intensity.
- Team Sports
- Soccer players may be at risk of injury from the ball, falls, or collisions with other players.
- Volleyball players can also count mouthguards as a good idea.
Playing By the Rules
So yes, you can have orthodontic treatment with Dr. Clauss and play sports, but mouthguards remain an important piece of that puzzle! Here is some additional advice regarding your mouthguard:
- Choosing the Right Mouthguard: If you have braces, choose a mouthguard designed to accommodate them, ensuring a comfortable and secure fit. Using standard mouthguards means they may not fit properly over your appliance and can actually cause discomfort or injury.
- Replace it Regularly: Replace your mouthguard if you notice any damage at any point, like cracks. A compromised mouthguard usually doesn’t provide an effective level of protection.
- Communicate with Your Coach: Make sure your coach is aware of your braces and any concerns you may have about them. They can occasionally modify drills or exercises to reduce the risk of injuries to your mouth.
- Be Mindful of Contact: Try your best to avoid unnecessary situations or movements that could increase the risk of injury to your braces and mouth during sports.
- Consistent Use: Above all, make sure your mouthguard is in during all sports activities, including practice sessions. Dental accidents can occur at any given time, so it’s important to be diligent about protection.
Consider consulting directly with Dr. Clauss for more advice on the right mouthguard and where to buy one. He can help to provide tailored recommendations based on your individual case.
Scoring Goals
If you’ve recently started orthodontic treatment and lead an active lifestyle, don’t worry too much! This approach does require some additional discipline, but many of Dr. Clauss’s patients manage it. For any specific challenges or compliance issues you or your child may experience, our team is here to provide you with the help you need. Our Watertown and Middlebury offices are excited to serve you!