Braces and Sports

Message

#1 Post by **skipsaw** » Mon Apr 11, 2005 3:27 pm

Hi all - Newbie here. Just got my braces "installed" last Tuesday.

Quick question - I play a lot of sports, and while none of them are "full contact" in nature (like football, etc.) a few of them are fairly fast-paced and do involve incidental contact. Would it be advisable for me to wear protection for my braces (mouthguard) while playing? The types of sports I'm worried about are raquetball, basketball, and softball.

Any advice? Thanks in advance.

- SkipSaw

#2 Post by **Doug** » Mon Apr 11, 2005 6:30 pm

I would think so. In my ortho's office they have a poster showing which sports you need to wear a mouth guard for - the only one that doesn't require it is chess!

Even if you're not in danger of breaking off a bracket or whatever, you could get a nasty cut if your lip was impacted against your braces.

Good luck to you.

#3 Post by **DCUnited** » Tue Apr 12, 2005 7:23 am

for basketball I'd say definitely. Elbows tend to fly at face level alot in basketball and the chance of getting hit in the mouth is quite high. Most orthos will provide you with a mouthguard for free if you just ask.

#4 Post by **Dr. Randall** » Tue Apr 12, 2005 9:30 am

You should wear one for all sports, but most definitely Basketball. Too many elbows.

Randall

#5 Post by **Jason** » Wed Aug 31, 2005 1:53 pm

Hi,

My orthodontist gave me one of those mouth guards with the two pieces for top and bottom connected, but it doesn't seem to fit right at the top. The top piece sort of tilts downward so that it doesn't cover my front top teeth.

But regardless, it doesn't seem that it should be so uncomfortable -- I can't even plausibly close my mouth. Am I missing something?

#6 Post by **fins** » Wed Aug 31, 2005 2:24 pm

I would ask the ortho to take a look at it. There are so many different types of mouthguards out there maybe another would be a better fit. You should have one for basketball, like the other posts recommend.

#7 Post by **mackenzie** » Wed Aug 31, 2005 5:30 pm

Definetly wear one for raquetball my mom knows a guy who got all of his front teeth messed up when the other person's raquet hit him in the mouth.

#8 Post by **TuZZi** » Fri Sep 02, 2005 9:12 pm

I play hockey, and eventhough I wear a complete face mask, either a wire cage, or a plexi visor, the ortho told me to wear a mouthguard so I don't clench my teeth together if I ever happen to fall or get hit.

#9 Post by **dstef** » Mon Sep 05, 2005 3:31 am

Hey guys, is it okay to play football with braces, with a mouthguard ofcourse, or is there too much risk involved

#10 Post by **glowstix** » Mon Sep 05, 2005 7:54 am

dstef wrote:Hey guys, is it okay to play football with braces, with a mouthguard ofcourse, or is there too much risk involved

you have to clarify which "football" you're talking about

remember the american football is different from "world" football.

#11 Post by **bbsadmin** » Mon Sep 05, 2005 9:58 am

Jason wrote:Hi,

My orthodontist gave me one of those mouth guards with the two pieces for top and bottom connected, but it doesn't seem to fit right at the top. The top piece sort of tilts downward so that it doesn't cover my front top teeth.

But regardless, it doesn't seem that it should be so uncomfortable -- I can't even plausibly close my mouth. Am I missing something?

Tell your ortho, maybe it can be adjusted. There are also other types of mouthguards that might fit you better. Ask about that, too.