Yes, sports can damage braces, mainly when a ball, elbow, fall, or collision hits the mouth. An impact may loosen brackets, bend wires, injure the lips or cheeks, or damage a tooth. You usually do not need to stop playing sports during orthodontic treatment. A properly fitted mouthguard made for braces helps protect your teeth and braces during practices and games.
Having braces does not automatically prevent you from playing your favorite sport. The key is to understand how injuries can affect your orthodontic appliances and take steps to reduce the risk. The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) confirms that people can participate in sports during orthodontic treatment but recommends discussing mouthguard selection with their orthodontist.
How can sports damage braces?
Traditional braces contain brackets attached to the teeth and wires that help guide teeth into position. A direct hit to the mouth can damage these parts or cause an injury to the teeth and surrounding tissues. Even if the braces look normal after an accident, a dental injury may not always be obvious immediately.
Sports-related problems may include:
- Loose or broken brackets: A blow to the mouth may loosen a bracket from a tooth or damage the attachment holding it in place.
- Bent or displaced wires: An impact may bend a wire or move it out of its usual position.
- Injuries to the lips and cheeks: Brackets and wires can press against or cut the soft tissues inside the mouth during an impact.
- Tooth damage: A fall, collision, or direct hit may chip, crack, loosen, or knock out a tooth, regardless of whether braces are present.
- Discomfort after an injury: Pressure or soreness may develop around a tooth or orthodontic appliance after contact with another player or an object.
These problems are not inevitable. Wearing suitable protective equipment can reduce the likelihood of sports-related dental injuries, although no mouthguard can prevent every injury.
Which sports pose a risk to braces?
The main concern is the chance of a blow to the mouth or face. Contact and collision sports naturally involve more opportunities for player-to-player contact, but falls, fast-moving equipment, and other accidents can also cause dental injuries.
The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends properly fitted mouthguards for activities with a significant risk of dental or facial injury. Examples include football, rugby, basketball, hockey, soccer, boxing, wrestling, martial arts, skateboarding, cycling, and gymnastics. The level of risk depends on the particular activity and circumstances.
For example, a basketball player may be struck by another player's elbow, while a cyclist may fall and hit the face against the ground. A swimmer participating in a non-contact activity generally has different mouth-injury risks from a boxer, but the appropriate precautions still depend on the activity.
Instead of avoiding sports altogether, consider the likelihood of facial impact, the protective equipment required for the activity, and your orthodontist's recommendations. Follow the sport's rules about mouthguards, helmets, and face protection.
How does a mouthguard protect braces?
A sports mouthguard is a protective covering worn over the teeth. It helps absorb and distribute some of the force from an impact, reducing the risk of injury to the teeth and the soft tissues of the mouth. With braces, a suitable guard also helps shield brackets and wires from direct contact.
According to the American Association of Orthodontists, a mouthguard that fits over orthodontic appliances is particularly useful during sports. Brackets and wires can have sharp edges, so a blow to the face may injure the inside of the lips or cheeks if the mouth is not protected.
A mouthguard reduces risk rather than eliminating it. Its effectiveness also depends on fit, retention, construction, and whether it is worn consistently during the activity.
Which mouthguard should you wear with braces?
The most suitable mouthguard is one that accommodates your braces, stays securely in place, and provides comfortable protection without putting unwanted pressure on the orthodontic appliances.
Orthodontic-specific mouthguards
These mouthguards are designed to fit over brackets and wires. They provide space for orthodontic appliances and may be a practical option for people who play sports regularly. Ask your orthodontist which model is appropriate for your particular braces and sport.
Custom-fitted mouthguards
A dentist can arrange a mouthguard tailored to your teeth and oral anatomy. A custom-fitted guard may provide a more comfortable and secure fit, but the design must account for your orthodontic appliances. The Cleveland Clinic explains that mouthguards can protect braces as well as teeth and other dental restorations, and that a dental professional can help determine which type is suitable.
Store-bought and boil-and-bite mouthguards
Some ready-made mouthguards offer limited adjustment, while boil-and-bite models soften in hot water so the wearer can shape them. However, a standard guard may not fit correctly over braces. The ADA notes that a dental professional can help with fitting a boil-and-bite mouthguard when orthodontic appliances are present.
Do not force a poorly fitting mouthguard over brackets or reshape it without checking the product instructions and your orthodontist's advice. A guard that repeatedly slips, feels uncomfortable, or presses against your braces may need to be replaced or adjusted.
How can you protect your braces during sports?
Good preparation makes it easier to continue participating in sports while your teeth are being straightened.
- Wear a suitable mouthguard: Use it during practices as well as competitions whenever the activity carries a risk of dental injury.
- Check the fit regularly: Make sure the mouthguard stays in place and is not damaged. Ask your orthodontist whether it needs adjustment as your teeth move during treatment.
- Use other protective equipment: Wear the helmet, face shield, or other protection required or recommended for your sport.
- Follow your sport's safety rules: Use the equipment required by your team or governing body and follow instructions from coaches and officials.
- Keep orthodontic supplies available: Orthodontic wax may help cover a wire that irritates the mouth while you arrange professional advice, but it does not repair damaged braces.
- Inspect the equipment: Replace a cracked, torn, or poorly fitting mouthguard rather than relying on it for protection.
These steps cannot guarantee that braces will remain undamaged, but they can help reduce avoidable injury and make it easier to manage an unexpected problem.
What should you do if sports damage your braces?
If you take a hit to the mouth during a game or practice, stop playing and assess whether you may have an injury. Do not assume that everything is fine simply because the braces appear to be in place. Pay attention to new pain, bleeding, a loose bracket, a wire that has moved, or a tooth that feels different after the impact.
If a bracket becomes loose or a wire bends or shifts, contact your orthodontist promptly for guidance. Avoid pulling on the wire or trying to repair the appliance with household tools. A loose bracket or displaced wire may interfere with orthodontic treatment, so your orthodontist may need to examine and repair it.
The AAO's guidance on orthodontic emergencies distinguishes routine appliance problems from injuries that need immediate attention. Seek urgent dental or medical care for a knocked-out or significantly displaced permanent tooth, suspected jaw injury, heavy bleeding that will not stop, or difficulty breathing or swallowing. Major facial injuries or loss of consciousness after a head impact also require emergency assessment.
If a tooth is knocked out, do not wait for a routine orthodontic appointment. Seek emergency dental care immediately because prompt treatment can affect whether the tooth can be saved. After an injury has been assessed and treated, contact your orthodontist about any damage to your braces and the effect it may have on your treatment schedule.
Can children and teenagers play sports with braces?
Yes. Children and teenagers can generally continue participating in sports while wearing braces, provided that they use suitable protective equipment and follow advice from their orthodontist. The same basic precautions apply to adults receiving orthodontic treatment.
Parents and caregivers can help by making sure a young athlete has an appropriate mouthguard, knows when to wear it, and tells an adult if a hit to the mouth causes pain or damages an appliance. Coaches should also be aware of any applicable mouthguard requirements for the sport.
Children's teeth and jaws are still developing, and the appropriate dental response to an injury depends on factors such as which teeth are involved and the nature of the impact. A dental professional can advise on any injury and determine whether the braces require attention.
Does damage to braces delay orthodontic treatment?
It can. Braces work by applying controlled forces to move teeth over time. If a bracket comes loose or a wire becomes displaced, the appliance may not work as intended. Depending on the type of damage, your orthodontist may need to arrange an additional appointment or make adjustments to your treatment plan.
A sports-related injury does not automatically mean that treatment will be delayed. The effect depends on the damage, whether a tooth has been injured, and how quickly the problem is addressed. Reporting damage promptly helps your orthodontist decide what needs to happen next.
Can you avoid sports until your braces come off?
Most people do not need to give up sports simply because they have braces. Staying active is often possible with suitable protection and sport-specific precautions. The important distinction is between participating safely and playing without addressing a known risk of mouth or facial injury.
Discuss your sport with your orthodontist, particularly if it involves frequent contact, fast-moving equipment, or a risk of falling. They can recommend a suitable mouthguard and advise whether any additional precautions are appropriate for your orthodontic treatment. If you have already sustained an injury, get the injury assessed before returning to play.