Can You Still Play Sports With Braces?

Posted on May 13, 2022

According to Sports Health, every year about 5 million teeth are broken or chipped during sports participation. 32% of these injuries occur in children’s sports. Here are five tips you must know while playing sports with braces.

1. Proceed With Caution

You have braces…so what does it mean for your athletic career? In a word: adapt. It takes some serious commitment and sacrifice to maintain an active lifestyle with braces. But it’s not impossible. Remember to be extra careful!

2. Invisalign Is a Good Option for Those Who Are Active

If you’re looking for an alternative to metal braces, look no further than Invisalign. The transparent aligners are designed to shift teeth into their proper position through gentle pressure and are said to be fully removable, so you can still play sports while wearing them.

4. Be Careful

Accidents happen, and injuries can sideline you for weeks or months at a time. If you’re involved in a sport, orthodontic treatment can affect your participation ability. However, it doesn’t have to keep you from playing altogether. Your doctor will let you know when activity is appropriate for you once your braces are in place.

5. Always Protect Yourself

It’s smart to wear a mouthguard when playing contact sports because your teeth and gums are particularly vulnerable when you have braces. This kind of guard typically slips over your teeth and covers your lips, so it shouldn’t interfere with your ability to play most sports as long as you buy one that fits well.

Sure, playing sports with braces might be harder. However, you can do it! Just because you have to wear braces doesn’t mean that you can’t participate in sports. Remember to brush your teeth regularly and floss every day! If you do these things, you will still be able to enjoy all of your favorite physical activities with perfect oral health.

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