Sports and Braces: Protecting Teeth with Custom Mouthguards

The risks of playing sports without protection

According to the British Orthodontic Society, between 13% and 39% of all dental injuries are sports-related, and around 25% of children in the UK will injure or lose a front tooth at some stage during childhood or adolescence.

For brace wearers, the stakes are even higher. Think about it: A blow to the face doesn’t just risk chipping a tooth; it can drive the soft tissue of your lips and cheeks directly into the brackets and wires of a fixed brace, causing painful lacerations and a dental emergency needing immediate attention.

There’s also the impact on your treatment itself to consider:

• Brackets can break and snap off
• Wires can bend or break
• Teeth can be knocked out of alignment

Each of these means extra emergency appointments, potential delays and added cost. The risk of damage to both your smile and your orthodontic progress is very real, yet very avoidable.

Do you need a special mouthguard with braces?

Yes, which is where a lot of patients get caught out.

Standard off-the-shelf mouthguards won’t do, as they’re designed for a static bite. But when you’re undergoing orthodontic treatment with braces, your teeth are actively moving. A regular guard doesn’t leave room for that movement, which means it can fit poorly, put pressure on the wrong areas and even interfere with your treatment.

What you need is an ortho-guard, which is a mouthguard specifically designed to accommodate brackets and wires. These guards feature a wider internal channel that sits over the top of your braces without pressing against them.

Regarding upper versus lower teeth, note that mouthguards are typically worn on the upper arch, since upper teeth protrude more and take the brunt of most impacts. But a well-designed guard cushions the force of a collision to protect both jaws, so even your lower teeth and braces benefit from the support.

Wondering whether you can play rugby with braces? Yes, you can. But you need the right guard to do it safely.

Off-the-shelf vs. custom-made: what’s the difference?

Not all mouthguards offer the same level of protection. Here’s how the main options compare.

1. Stock mouthguards

These are the ready-to-wear guards you’ll find in most sports shops. They’re cheap, certainly, but they’re also bulky, fit poorly and they offer the least protection of any option. For brace wearers, they’re pretty much useless.

2. Boil-and-bite mouthguards

A step up from stock guards, boil-and-bite options are softened in hot water and pressed over the teeth, where the material moulds around your brackets and wires. That might sound like a good fit, but it isn’t. Why? The warm material can grip tightly onto brackets, making the guard awkward to remove. It’s also easy to bite down too hard during moulding, which creates thin patches that won’t absorb impact properly. As your teeth shift, that moulded shape becomes outdated quickly, too.

3. Custom-made mouthguards

This, the gold standard, is the only option we’d genuinely recommend for anyone wearing braces.

A bespoke mouthguard is crafted from medical-grade materials, such as impact-absorbing pEVA, and engineered to maintain a uniform thickness (generally 4-6mm) throughout. That consistent thickness matters because it distributes the force of a blow evenly, rather than concentrating it on vulnerable spots.

Custom guards also fit precisely. This means they’re comfortable to wear and don’t interfere with breathing or speaking, which are two common complaints with off-the-shelf alternatives. For brace wearers, the superior protection a custom-made mouthguard offers against oral trauma simply isn’t comparable to anything you’d buy over the counter.

The process of getting your custom sports mouthguard

The procedure is straightforward and doesn’t take long.

1. Consultation: Your orthodontist will assess your current appliance and discuss your sport and the level of contact involved.
2. Impressions or digital scans: We take precise records of your teeth and braces, capturing every detail of your bite and bracket position.
3. Laboratory fabrication: These records are sent to our dental laboratory, where your mouthguard will be created to fit your exact specifications.
4. Fit appointment: Once it’s ready, we check the fit for comfort, retention and ease of breathing and speaking. Adjustments are made on the spot if needed.

One thing worth knowing is that as your teeth shift during treatment, your mouthguard may gradually become less precise. Your orthodontist will be able to advise when it’s time for a new mouthguard or an adjustment, so you’re always getting the protection you need, at every stage of treatment.

Caring for your mouthguard

Just as you must take extra care with your braces, a little maintenance for your mouthguard goes a long way. To keep your guard hygienic and in good shape:

• Rinse it in cold water before and after every use.
• Clean it gently with a soft toothbrush and mild, non-abrasive soap.
• Keep it away from hot water and direct sunlight, as heat distorts the shape.
• Store it in a firm, ventilated case to allow air circulation.

Proper care keeps your protective gear effective and extends its lifespan, which matters when you’re relying on it to protect your teeth and your treatment investment.

Ready to play sports with confidence?

Orthodontic treatment shouldn’t mean sitting on the sidelines. With the right mouthguard, you can continue doing the sport you love while protecting your teeth, your braces and the progress you’ve made.

A custom-made sports mouthguard is also worth thinking about from a financial angle, as dental injuries can be costly to repair. Investing in a custom-made guard now is considerably cheaper than emergency dental work later.

Get in touch with our team at Hampstead Orthodontic Practice to ask about our sports mouthguard service, or to book a FREE consultation. We’ll make sure you're properly protected, on the pitch and off it.

FAQs

Can I play contact sports with braces?

Yes, but you need the right protection. A standard mouthguard won’t work with braces, so a custom ortho-guard is essential for staying safe when playing contact sports.

Why can’t I just use a regular mouthguard?

Regular guards are designed for a static bite and don’t account for moving teeth or brackets. They fit poorly, can press on the wrong areas, and may interfere with your treatment progress.

What makes a custom mouthguard better for brace wearers?

Custom guards are made from impact-absorbing materials with a uniform thickness and a wider channel to fit over your brackets. They offer superior protection, comfort and fit compared to anything off the shelf.

How often will I need a new mouthguard during treatment?

As your teeth shift, your guard will gradually become less precise. Your orthodontist will advise when it needs replacing or relining. It’s typically every few months, depending on how quickly your teeth are moving.

How do I keep my mouthguard clean?

Rinse it in cold water before and after use, brush it gently with a soft toothbrush and mild soap, and store it in a ventilated case. Avoid hot water and direct sunlight, as heat will distort the shape.