When you first get braces put on, you get our list of do’s and don’ts that come along with it. Don’t eat certain foods, don’t chew on things that aren’t food, don’t use your teeth as a tool for stuff, and don’t forget to brush and floss more thoroughly than you ever have before in your life. But what about sports? Can you still play sports if you have braces?
Risks
The first thing you need to do is to examine the risks that come with playing sports with braces. The risks are twofold: first, to you, and second, to your braces. The tissues in your mouth are generally soft and sensitive. If you were to play sports and suffer a direct facial injury, you could easily suffer cuts and bruising on the inside of your mouth from your braces pressing and rubbing against it. Similarly, the force could be enough to damage your braces. Loose brackets and brands and broken archwires can all come as a result of forces impacting your face as you play sports.
Solutions
You have a few potential solutions available to you if you still want to play sports while you wear braces. It’s worth noting that some sports come with a higher likelihood of injury than others. You might choose to play sports with a lower risk. Still, even if your sport isn’t very risky, it’s always best to wear an orthodontic mouthguard to protect both your mouth and your braces. Before you get braces, you can always talk to Dr. Carver about different braces options. Invisalign and lingual braces could be a better alternative.
Dealing with Injuries
If you do happen to suffer a direct injury while playing sports with braces, the first thing you should do is to get the medical attention you need. Applying cold packs can help with swelling and ease some of the discomfort. Once you’ve gotten the immediate attention you need, it’s important that you call us at Stellar Family Orthodontics as soon as possible. We’ll help you figure out what the next step should be and if you need to come in for treatment.
In short, the answer is yes, you can still play sports with braces. For the sake of your mouth and your braces, however, you should definitely take steps to prevent injury. That way you’ll be able to enjoy the chance to play while not having to deal with reconstructive procedures to correct any damage that might be done while playing.
Have you suffered a facial injury while wearing braces? Check out our Emergency Care services to see how we can help you.