Can I Play Sports with a Mouthguard When I Get Braces?
Dr. Heidi Harman and the team at Heidi Harman Orthodontics recommends to their patients who play sports that they wear a mouthguard so that their braces stay protected during their activity. Dr. Heidi Harman believes it is important for all his patients to know exactly what mouth guards do and why they are important. Active patients can focus then on their game and also stay on schedule with their orthodontic treatment for patients in or near Grain Valley, MO. The professionals at Heidi Harman Orthodontics treat all their patients with the care and consistency that their lifestyles demand while ensuring the best possible treatment outcomes.
Braces for patients living in or working near Grain Valley MO
What do mouth guards do?
Mouth guards help prevent injuries to the teeth and jaws when patients get active in sports or physical activities. Many sports teams and leagues (football, lacrosse, and ice hockey) require mouth guards because they help keep the players teeth and mouth safe during their activity. When a patient has braces, mouthguards are even more important so the braces stay intact and do not break.
What are the different types of mouth guards available?
There are three main kinds of mouth guards that can be used by patients with braces living in or near Grain Valley, MO.
These three kinds of mouth guards are:
- Stock Mouth Guards: Stock mouth guards are inexpensive, come ready to wear, and can be bought at most sporting goods stores. Stock mouth guards offer the least amount of protection for a patient’s teeth and braces. They are a one-size-fits-all uniform fit and therefore cannot be adjusted easily. Some patients find them bulky and that they make talking and breathing difficult.
- Boil-and-Bite Mouth guards: Boil-and-bite mouth guards mold to the player’s teeth and gums. To get a custom fit, a patient would heat the mouthguard in hot water to soften the thermoplastic material. The patient then bites down on the warm, softened mouthguard to mold it perfectly to fit their teeth and braces. Boil-and-bite mouth guards can be found at most sporting goods stores and, although they are a little more expensive than stock mouth guards, they are not prohibitively expensive.
- Orthodontic Mouth Guards: Orthodontic mouth guards are available only by orthodontists like Dr. Heidi Harman. These mouth guards may be more expensive than the others, and they are customized to fit and protect the teeth and braces. Orthodontic mouth guards offer the most comfort and protection of any of these types of mouth guards.
No matter what mouthguard you choose, Dr. Heidi Harman and the pros at Heidi Harman Orthodontics want to make sure that your teeth and braces are fully protected during any kind of physical activity.