Playing Sports With Braces: Mouthguards, Safety and What to Do After a Hit
Yes, you can play sports with braces. Low-contact activities like running, swimming and dancing are safe at every stage of treatment. For contact sports and sports involving a ball, wear a mouthguard designed to fit around braces. It protects the teeth, lips and cheeks, and keeps brackets and wires from breaking or bending.
Fall is a busy season for young athletes, and one of the most common questions parents ask after braces go on is whether their child can stay on the team. Braces will not stop anyone from playing the sports and activities they love. They do call for a few precautions, because a hit to the mouth affects more than the teeth when brackets and wires are involved.
Is It Safe to Play Sports With Braces?
Low-Contact Activities
Running, swimming and dancing are perfectly safe at all stages of orthodontic treatment. The risk of a blow to the face is low, so most patients continue these activities exactly as before. Good hydration and a quick rinse afterward are the only adjustments most need.
Contact and Ball Sports
Children and teens involved in higher-contact sports and sports involving a ball are advised to wear a mouthguard. That covers sports where a ball, stick, elbow or fall can reach the face. The braces themselves are strong, but they sit on the outside of the teeth, which puts them between the teeth and the soft tissue of the lips and cheeks.
Why Does a Hit to the Mouth Matter More With Braces?
Without braces, a hit to the mouth can chip or loosen a tooth. With braces, the same hit can also press the lips and cheeks against metal brackets, which can cut the soft tissue inside the mouth. It can also break a bracket or bend the wire.
A damaged appliance is more than an inconvenience. When a wire bends, it can no longer move the teeth into position the way it was designed to until it is repaired. Patients with ceramic braces should take additional care, since ceramic brackets are less durable than traditional metal braces. Protecting the braces during games and practices protects the treatment plan, too.
Players should also avoid using their teeth as a tool, such as to open a water bottle or tear tape. It seems harmless, but it puts the same kind of stress on brackets that a hit does, and it can weaken and damage the appliance over the course of a season.
What Kind of Mouthguard Works With Braces?
Mouthguards Made for Braces
There are special mouthguards designed specifically for braces. They are flexible plastic mouthpieces that fit over the brackets and wires, protecting the teeth and soft tissues as well as the appliance. Because they are shaped to make room for braces, they tend to be more comfortable than a standard guard pressed over brackets.
Fit Changes as Teeth Move
Braces move teeth throughout treatment, so a guard that fits in September may feel different by spring. Bring the mouthguard to adjustment visits if it starts to feel tight or loose, and ask our team before choosing a guard that molds tightly around the brackets. We can help you find an option that suits the sport and the stage of treatment.
| Activity type | Examples | Our guidance |
|---|---|---|
| Low contact | Running, swimming, dancing | Safe at all stages of treatment |
| Ball sports | Basketball, baseball, soccer, volleyball | Wear a mouthguard designed for braces |
| High contact | Football, hockey, lacrosse, wrestling, martial arts | Wear a mouthguard designed for braces at every practice and game |
| Clear aligner patients | Any sport | Remove trays for play as directed and store them in their case |
What Should You Do After an Injury to the Mouth?
Check the Teeth and Soft Tissue
If a player takes a hit, start by checking for injuries to the teeth, lips and cheeks. Rinse with water. For a serious injury to the face or teeth, seek care right away before worrying about the braces.
Check the Braces
Once the player is comfortable, look for loose brackets or bent wires. If a wire or bracket is rubbing, cover it with orthodontic wax. If any piece comes loose, save it and bring it to our office. Then contact our team as soon as possible so we can repair the appliance and keep treatment on schedule.
How Else Can Athletes Protect Their Braces?
Pack a Small Kit in the Gear Bag
A mouthguard is the main piece of protection, but a few small items make game days easier. Keep orthodontic wax, a travel toothbrush and a small container in the gear bag. The wax covers a bracket or wire that starts rubbing during play, and the container keeps any piece that comes loose safe until it can be brought to our office. Players who wear clear aligners should add their aligner case, so trays never end up wrapped in a napkin or tucked in a pocket.
Choose Braces-Friendly Snacks and Drinks
Sideline snacks are easy to overlook. Hard, sticky and chewy foods can break brackets or bend wires, so soft options like bananas, cheese or a sandwich on soft bread are better choices before and after a game. Sugary drinks are worth limiting, too, because brackets and wires trap sugar and food, which feeds plaque. Water is the best choice during practice, and a quick rinse after a sports drink helps until the player can brush at home.
Finally, keep regular adjustment visits on the calendar during the season. Patients with braces typically see us about every four to eight weeks, and those visits are when we look for signs of damage and replace wires as needed. Missing visits can lengthen treatment, which is the last thing an athlete wants when the next season is around the corner.
Are Clear Aligners Easier for Athletes?
For some athletes, yes. Clear aligners can be removed for activities such as sports and playing musical instruments, and there are no brackets or wires to damage. The tradeoff is responsibility. Aligners need to be worn 20 to 22 hours a day to work, so trays must go back in right after practice, and they should always go into their case, not a pocket or gym bag. Our overview of Invisalign for teens explains whether aligners fit a teen’s case and schedule, and our team can compare the options with dental braces at a consultation.
The bite itself matters as much as the sport. Clear aligners are best suited for mild to moderate teeth misalignment, while traditional metal braces are often the only option for severe orthodontic issues. For an athlete with a complex bite, braces and a good mouthguard are usually the practical combination, and the right plan is the one that corrects the bite while fitting the season.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my child keep running, swimming or dancing with braces?
Yes. Low-contact activities like running, swimming and dancing are safe at all stages of orthodontic treatment, including right after braces go on.
Does my child need a mouthguard for practice, or just games?
Wear it whenever there is a chance of contact or a ball reaching the face. Practices carry the same risk as games.
What if braces irritate the cheeks during sports?
Orthodontic wax can cover a bracket or wire that is rubbing. If the irritation continues, let us know at the next visit or sooner.
Can adults with braces play recreational sports?
Yes. The same guidance applies to adults in recreational leagues. Adults considering treatment can read more about adult braces.
Keep Your Athlete in the Game — Mile Square Orthodontics
Dr. Carly Kinzer and our Hoboken team help young athletes protect their smiles throughout treatment, from choosing a mouthguard to repairing a bracket after a tough game. Learn more about braces for teens and life with braces, call us at (201) 537-3535, or book online. New patients can begin with a free smile assessment.