Whether it’s a practice, a game, or just throwing a ball around, sports carry the same risk for a young athlete in orthodontic treatment: one stray elbow or ball to the face can injure teeth, lips and the hardware that is moving them. At Premiere Orthodontics, Dr. Jason Battle helps Winter Springs athletes choose a mouthguard that protects both the smile and the treatment working on it.
Every practice counts, not just game day
The simplest rule is the best one. Wear a mouthguard any time you play a sport. That includes scrimmages, conditioning drills and casual throwing or kicking around with friends. Contact happens when you least expect it, and nobody regrets having a guard in place. Players do regret leaving it in the gym bag.
For a student juggling classes at Milwee Middle School or Oviedo High School with an afternoon practice schedule, building the habit early makes it automatic. Keep the guard in its case in the same pocket of the sports bag every day, and it is there when the coach blows the whistle.
Comparing the three kinds of mouthguards
Stock mouthguards
These are one-size-fits-all guards that pop in without any molding. They are easy to use, but they are bulkier and offer the least protection of the three types.
Boil-and-bite mouthguards
A boil-and-bite guard is softened and then molded by biting into it. Sporting goods aisles are full of them, yet they are not meant for orthodontic patients. The material can grip brackets and pull them off, which means an unplanned repair visit. Because the guard is molded tightly to the teeth as they sit today, it can also hold them in place and keep braces from doing their job.
Orthodontic mouthguards
A mouthguard designed for orthodontic patients covers both the upper and lower teeth and is shaped so it does not stick to teeth or brackets. That lets treatment keep progressing while the guard cushions against a hit. Orthodontic mouthguards are also the most comfortable type to wear. You can read more about how each style compares under mouthguards for braces and aligners.
Playing sports in braces
Athletes wearing metal braces or ceramic braces follow a simple routine:
- Put the mouthguard in before warm-ups start.
- After practice, rinse it, then wash it with an antibacterial soap or soak it in a cleaning solution.
- Clean the case too, and let both air dry.
- Store the guard in its case in a drawer or cabinet until the next session.
If a bracket does come loose or a wire starts poking, orthodontic wax offers temporary relief until we can see you. Our emergency orthodontist information walks through what to do next.
Playing sports with clear aligners
Aligner patients handle things a little differently, because the trays come out for play:
- Remove your aligners before the game or practice, rinse them and place them in their carrying case.
- Put in your mouthguard and play.
- Afterward, rinse and clean the guard and return it to its own case.
- Clean your aligners and put them back in so treatment keeps moving.
If your teen is considering Invisalign for teens, ask us how a mouthguard fits into aligner treatment. For most athletes it simply means one extra case in the bag and the discipline to put the trays back in promptly after the final whistle.
Choosing a guard at our Winter Springs office
If you need a mouthguard, mention it at your next appointment. Dr. Battle will help you pick the right type for your sport and your treatment and go over proper wear and care. If your child has not started treatment yet, the first step is a complimentary consultation with Dr. Battle, our board-certified orthodontist, who can also talk through braces for teens.
Our office sits at 5733 Canton Cv, off SR 417 near the Tuskawilla Rd and Red Bug Lake Rd intersection, so it is close for players who live in Tuskawilla, Glen Eagle or Avery Park and for students at South Seminole Academy. We are open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Patients in active treatment can also use DentalMonitoring virtual check-ins, which cut down on the number of trips that compete with practice time.
What to do after a hit to the mouth
Even with a guard, hard contact happens. If braces or aligners are damaged, do not force a bent appliance back into place. Put any broken pieces in a bag and call us at (407) 699-1200 so we can check the teeth and repair the hardware quickly. If an injury goes beyond a typical orthodontic problem, such as trouble breathing or a serious facial injury, go to the emergency room right away.
Mouthguards FAQ
Can my teen use the same boil-and-bite guard from last season?
Not while wearing braces. That style can pull brackets loose and interfere with tooth movement. An orthodontic mouthguard is the safer choice during treatment.
Does my child need a guard for non-contact sports?
We recommend wearing one any time you play, since falls, stray balls and collisions happen in nearly every sport.
Should aligners stay in under a mouthguard?
No. Take the aligners out, store them in their case, wear the guard, and put the aligners back in after you clean up.
Protect the smile you are working toward
Treatment is an investment of time and effort, and a good guard helps keep it on track through every season. Request a New Patient Exam and we will talk through treatment, sports and the right protection for your athlete.