Are you excited to start Invisalign? Is your child or teenager getting braces soon? Getting a straighter smile is certainly something to look forward to, but it’s natural to have some questions about how treatment will influence your daily life. For instance, will you need to change how you play your favorite sport, or give it up altogether? Fortunately, there’s a good chance you or your child can continue to enjoy all your favorite extracurricular activities on your journey towards a straighter set of pearly whites. Read on as we cover some important questions about sports and orthodontics.
Can I Still Play Sports with Braces or Invisalign?
The answer to your most pressing question is in short, yes! You can continue to play whatever your favorite sport is regardless of what type of orthodontic treatment you’re undergoing. Playing with braces or aligners will take some adjusting, but shouldn’t pose any serious challenge for you. However, it’s essential that you take a few extra steps to protect yourself and your orthodontics during the game.
How Do I Protect My Orthodontics While Playing Sports?
You’ll need to be extra careful to protect your teeth whether you’re playing a contact or no-contact sport. After all, it only takes one stray ball or elbow to cause serious damage to your pearly whites and orthodontics! To keep yourself safe, you nee to wear a specialized orthodontic mouthguard that’s designed to fit over your braces. This type of appliance will go a tremendously long way in protecting your braces from outside forces as well as keeping your teeth and soft tissues from becoming injured on the wires or brackets.
On the other hand, if you wear Invisalign clear aligners, you should remove them before playing sports. Even though aligners look somewhat like a mouthguard, they are not strong enough to offer any protection. Keep them safe and sound in their storage case while you hit the field or court, and don’t forget to wear them for at least 20-22 hours every day!
What If I Get an Oral Injury During Sports?
Regardless of how careful you are, accidents happen. If you sustain an injury or serious blow to the mouth, don’t panic. The first thing you should do is call your orthodontist. They’ll walk you through exactly what you need to do to manage your situation, whether you’ve damaged a tooth or broken a wire. In many cases, they’ll arrange to see you as quickly as possible to help get your situation under control. Keep in mind that if your jaw might be broken or if you have oral bleeding that won’t stop, you should go directly to your local emergency room.
There’s no question that orthodontic treatment will require you to make some changes to your daily life. Fortunately, you’ll still be able to enjoy all your favorite sports on your journey towards a better, healthier smile!
About the Practice
At Super Braces of Southbridge, we’re proud to offer orthodontic treatments for patients at every stage of life. Whether you’re interested in adult braces for yourself, Invisalign for your teen, pediatric orthodontics for your child, or something else entirely, our state-of-the-art practice has exactly what you need. Plus, our experienced and friendly team will be with you every step of the way during your treatment to answer all your questions and ensure everything goes smoothly. If you have more questions about orthodontics and sports, don’t hesitate to contact us online or give us a call at (508) 909-6719.