How to Protect Your Child’s Braces During Sports

Whether it’s basketball, football, gymnastics, or anything in between, you love watching your child play their favorite sport. But for kids that have braces, Dallas parents may also worry about protecting their investment (and their child’s teeth). You can do so easily when you follow the tips below — so you won’t have to worry about a rough tackle or ball to the face making you take two steps back on their orthodontic treatment plan! 

Dangerous Sports for Braces

When it comes to activities that can put your child’s braces at risk of breaking, the heavy-hitting sports that require special equipment are obvious. But pretty much any activity that involves moving at higher speeds and hard surfaces and/or moving balls can threaten their orthodontic hardware. 

These sports include:

• Football 
• Basketball
• Boxing
• Wrestling
• Baseball/softball
• Soccer
• Mountain biking
• And more

How to Protect Braces

There is good news — you can protect your child’s braces by outfitting them with the proper gear. You wouldn’t send them out onto the football field without a helmet and pads, so make sure their mouth is protected, too. You can do that with a custom mouthguard, which conforms to their unique dentition to provide the ultimate cushion and protection against impact. By providing a layer between the braces and their lips, you are also lowering the risk of them cutting their delicate soft oral tissue. 

Even if your child’s sport does not require them to wear a facemask, consider having them wear this extra layer of protection as well. And make sure they always wear a helmet when biking or scooting! 

Where to Find Custom Appliances

Customized mouthguards provide far more protection than the one-size-fits-all options, as they are far more likely to stay in place since they fit properly. Plus, having the correct fit means it is more comfortable, too, which increases the chance that your child will actually wear the mouthguard — the most crucial ingredient to their success. 

But where to find a customized appliance? You can easily locate one-size-fits-all options at the grocery store or pharmacy, but it’s not much more difficult to get one that is suited for your child’s specific dental anatomy — you simply need to schedule an appointment with your dentist in Dallas who offers them! A unique mouthguard can be made after taking a quick mold of the teeth. And, with proper care and maintenance, it can last for an entire season before replacement is required. That’s a worthy investment in your child’s straight teeth and beautiful smile!