Undergoing an orthodontic treatment can improve your health, appearance, and quality of life in the long run. In the meantime, however, you’ll need to make certain adjustments to your day-to-day life while straightening your smile. Whether you have braces or Invisalign, it’s essential that you take certain precautions to keep your treatment on track, especially when it comes to staying active. Here’s what you need to know about playing sports with braces or Invisalign.
Playing Sports with Braces
In general, your braces shouldn’t make it more difficult to play your favorite sports. In fact, the most significant change you’ll need to make is the type of mouthguard you should wear. While there are plenty of store-bought boil-and-bite mouthguards to choose from, these one-size-fits-all applications will not provide adequate protection for both your teeth and orthodontics in the event of an injury. Instead, you should invest in a custom-made orthodontic mouthguard to minimize your risk of broken teeth, damaged braces, and deep cuts to your soft tissues. Talk to your orthodontist today to see if you should get an orthodontic mouthguard to safely participate in your favorite sport.
Playing Sports with Invisalign
Since Invisalign aligners are removable, they are arguably even easier to play sports with! All you need to do is take your aligners out and store them safely in their case before heading to the court or field. Remember, even though your aligners look somewhat similar to a mouthguard, they should NOT be used like one! Your aligners are designed to shift teeth into place, not protect them from a sudden impact. When you play sports with Invisalign in, you run the risk of seriously damaging both your teeth and aligners! Always make sure to take your aligners out and store them somewhere safe beforehand, and remember to wear them for at least 20-22 hours every day!
How to Handle Orthodontic Sports Injuries
The above precautions will help you significantly lower your risk of injury while playing sports with orthodontics. Unfortunately, accidents still happen! Whether you sustain a particularly forceful impact while playing sports with braces or take a tumble while wearing your Invisalign aligners, you need to be prepared to handle an orthodontic sports injury. Here are some simple guidelines to keep in mind:
- No apparent damage or pain: If you take a blow to the face but your orthodontics and teeth look and feel fine, you’re probably ok. Keep an eye out for signs of hidden damage, such as a poking wire or tooth sensitivity.
- Bent braces, broken aligners, or chipped tooth: These types of injuries are typically classified as “non-urgent emergencies.” Call your orthodontist or dentist right away so they can schedule you an appointment within the next few days.
- Broken braces or teeth: Naturally, the more substantial the injury, the sooner you need treatment. If your braces or teeth are broken, call your dentist or orthodontist as soon as you can. They’ll likely schedule you for a same-day emergency appointment to keep the issue from getting worse.
- Severe bleeding or broken jaw: If you’ve dislocated or broken your jaw, or if you’ve sustained a cut inside your mouth that hasn’t stopped bleeding after 10-15 minutes, go directly to your local ER. Once you’ve been discharged, call your orthodontist or dentist afterwards to have the rest of your smile fixed up.
You don’t have to choose between enjoying your favorite sports and undergoing an orthodontic treatment. Keep this important information in mind so you can stay fit and active while straightening your smile!
About the Practice
Dr. James A. Hart and his talented team at Hart Orthodontics are committed to providing personalized, high-quality orthodontic care to the families of Cleburne and the surrounding communities. Dr. Hart has been helping patients achieve the happy, healthy, and beautiful smiles they deserve since 1978 and is proud to offer a wide variety of the latest orthodontic treatments. He and his team will be with you every step of the way on your orthodontic journey to ensure everything goes as smoothly as possible. To learn more, he can be contacted online or at (817) 645-2432.