Great news for athletes! You can still play sports even while undergoing orthodontic treatment! If you do play sports, it’s recommended that you wear a mouthguard in order to protect your teeth and your appliance. Let the office know if you need help finding the right mouthguard for the best protection. As part of your orthodontic fee, we provide our patients with a complimentary sportsguard to protect your teeth. Remember, you CANNOT wear a custom made tight fitting sportsguard with braces…..it will not allow the teeth to move and may even cause the braces to come loose slowing down your treatment

In case of any sports emergency, be sure to immediately check your mouth and your appliance for any damage that may have occurred. If you notice any loose teeth, or if your appliance has been damaged, please contact our office or your family dentist immediately.

More facts about mouthguards and sports safety

If your child is involved with any type of sports, please familiarize yourself with the following ‘cheat sheet’ on what to do in case of a broken, loosened or knocked out tooth.

Click here to download a PDF on how to manage common dental traumatic events. This can be printed and handed out to your children’s coaches and their friend’s parents as well.

Please watch a funny commercial on wearing a sportsguard by clicking here

Why Mouth Guards?

The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) is encouraging kids to “play it safe” and consistently wear mouth guards and other protective gear during competitions and practices.

Football, soccer and basketball can all be hard hitting sports and the members of the AAO want to ensure that orthodontic patients, and their teammates, are properly protected from sports related injuries to the jaw and mouth. These injuries can include a lifetime of maintenance to repair and maintain.

Despite the risks, many kids are still not wearing mouth guards and facial protection during sporting competitions and practices. Parents, coaches and kids need to understand the prevalence of sports injuries and know that many sports injuries can be reduced or prevented by wearing the proper protective gear.

Facts About Kids and Sports Safety

The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) is providing tips and information on how to best protect athlete’s smiles during recreational and organized sports.

• Injuries can happen at any age or skill level – More than half of the seven million sports and recreation-related injuries that occur each year are sustained by youth between ages 5 and 24. *
  • Collision and contact sports have higher injury rates. Baseball, soccer, basketball and football account for about 80% of all sports-related emergency room visits for children between 5 and 14 years of age.*
• Mouth guard use is very low – 67% of parents say their child does not wear a mouth guard – yet, 70% say their biggest fear when their child plays is that they will get hurt.**
  • One out of every four (27%) parents say their child has sustained an injury during an organized sport resulting in a trip to the emergency room.**
• Most coaches and leagues are not advising the use of mouth guards – Of the parents whose children do not wear a mouth guard, 84% say it’s because the league or coach does not require it.**
• Hard hits occur no matter what the sport – The average high school baseball pitcher can throw a fast ball between 75-85 miles per hour. This compares to being hit in the mouth by a speeding car.***
  • Cheerleading is one of the most dangerous sports, accounting for 65% of all injuries in high school girls’ athletics.****
• Children with braces need to wear mouth guards – One out of every three (31%) parents say their child has orthodontic treatment or braces while playing an organized sport.*
  • Lacerations can occur if an orthodontic patient´s mouth is not properly protected.

* Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
** American Association of Orthodontists
*** eFastball.com
**** MSNBC.com

Sports Safety Tips: “Play It Safe” and Gear Up!

The American Association of Orthodontists encourages kids to “Play It Safe” during organized and recreational sports. The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) is proud to spread the message that simple and inexpensive protective sports gear – such as mouth guards – can make a difference in preventing sports injuries.

Young athletes can protect their face and smile while playing with the following tips:

• Wear a mouth guard. Mouth guards can help prevent jaw, mouth and teeth injuries caused by a collision or fall. For athletes with braces, discuss with your orthodontist the best type of mouth guard for your sport.
• Wear a helmet. Helmets absorb the energy of an impact, and should be worn for activities like biking, skateboarding and in-line skating.
• Wear protective eyewear. Eyes are extremely vulnerable to injury during sports like soccer, baseball and hockey.
• Wear a face shield to avoid scratched or bruised skin. Hockey pucks, basketballs and racquetballs can do severe damage.

Also, keep in mind the following:

• Stretch before and after a game or practice. This can reduce the risk of pulling or straining a muscle.
• Be observant even as a spectator. Stay alert while watching a game to avoid foul baseballs and flying hockey pucks coming your way.
• Use good judgment. If an activity carries risk of dental or facial injury, gear up. Without it, a pick-up game of basketball or flag football could result in a trip to the emergency room.