Student athletes don’t have to choose between the benefits of braces and their favorite sports. An orthodontist in Eagan can help teach them how to protect their braces through mouthguards and proper preparation.
According to the NFHS, high school athletic participation increased by 200,000 in the 2024-2025 season. It reached a record 8,264,244 participants.
Unfortunately, this led to a record number of sports injuries. According to Stanford Children’s Hospital, over 3.5 million children and teens are injured playing sports per year. Teens who wear braces need to take extra care.
What Breaks Your Braces?
Any significant force could break braces, including unexpected falls and collisions. However, your diet can also have an impact. Biting into hard or sticky foods can provide enough force.
The Risks of Sports with Braces
Sports injuries affect the mouths of braces-wearing teens by causing:
- Broken brackets
- Split lips
- Teeth getting knocked out of alignment
- Fractured jaws
- Dislodged teeth
They aren’t only serious because of their immediate impact on oral health. They can also lead to expensive, serious issues down the road. They’re also likely to extend your orthodontic treatment time.
Your risk levels change depending on the type of sports you play.
Take extreme care during sports involving direct contact. These include:
- Martial arts
- Boxing
- Wrestling
High-impact sports are also risky. They include:
- Football
- Hockey
- Lacross
- Rugby
- Basketball
Falls in low-impact sports also cause damage. There are even risks in non-contact sports. Braces still need to be protected during:
- Swimming
- Golfing
- Track and field
How to Handle Emergencies
One of the best ways to protect your teeth is knowing what to do in an emergency, such as a dislodged or damaged tooth. The better you care for your mouth while waiting for professional care, the better the results will be.
Dislodged Teeth
If a tooth becomes dislodged, make every effort to find it. Pick it up by the crown and clean it off with water.
If you can, gently put it back into the tooth socket. Otherwise, place it in a container of milk and schedule an appointment with your orthodontist in Eagan right away.
Fractured Teeth
If part of a tooth comes off, find the missing piece. Bring it to the dentist with you. They should be able to reattach it if you come quickly enough.
Broken Brackets
If a bracket from your braces breaks, cover it with orthodontic wax. Don’t try to clip any of the long wires yourself. Go to an orthodontist in Eagan as soon as possible.
Soft Tissue Injury
If you experience a soft-tissue injury, rinse your mouth with saltwater. Use wax to cushion the area and ice packs to ease the pain.
How Can You Protect Your Braces?
Protecting your braces while playing sports requires the right tools. You’ll also need to know how to prepare for every game, from sports-certified mouth protectors to a daily care kit.
Wear Mouthguards
Eagan high school sports mouthguards are among the best ways to prevent facial injuries. Most injuries occur when athletes aren’t wearing them.
Custom-made mouthguards from your orthodontist are the best solution to protect your braces. They’re made from an impression of your mouth to fit better and let your teeth move.
This is essential regardless of whether you wear metal or ceramic braces. Both options are at risk of damage from sports. Mouthguards are the best way to protect them.
They also work with clear aligners such as Invisalign® for teens. It can be more convenient because you can take the aligners out before putting in the mouthguard.
Your orthodontist can also customize it to the sports you play. High-contact sports need more padding.
Make sure to keep your mouthguard clean. Rinse it in cool water. Air-dry it in a ventilated case.
Have your mouthguard refitted every so often. The best times to do this include:
- After sports seasons
- After adjustments
- If your teeth have visibly shifted
Mouthguards only last around a year. Replace yours if you notice issues. These include:
- Cracks
- Deep bite marks
- Color changes
Prepare for Games
How you prepare for a game can help protect your braces and is also important for broken bracket prevention.
Wear a helmet for high-contact sports.
Don’t eat hard or sugary snacks or drink sugary drinks before a game. It’ll weaken your tooth enamel and your braces.
Pack a Kit
A small mouthguard kit is one of the best tools for student-athlete smile care. Use a small pouch or purse and put your name on it so that everyone knows who it belongs to.
The essentials to pack inside include:
- Wax
- Mirror
- Toothbrush
- Floss
Frequently Asked Questions
How Often Do Braces Brackets Fall Off?
Most patients have a bracket fall off at least once during treatment. It can come off at any time.
The bracket doesn’t usually get detached for no reason. It’s typically the result of it being loosened already, such as after an injury.
What if a Bracket Falls off When I’m Sleeping?
Don’t panic. Treat the situation like any other instance of orthodontic emergency repair.
Try to find the bracket in the morning. Check for poking wires, and apply wax to any sore areas. Schedule a repair with your orthodontist.
What Do Dentists Do When a Bracket Falls Off?
The first step that the dentist will take is to fully remove the bracket. There are certain cases where it may not be on your tooth but still attached to the wire. In this case, they’ll rotate it and move it along the wire.
Next, they’ll clean your tooth and reattach it with adhesive. This should keep it from becoming detached again.
Find an Orthodontist in Eagan to Protect Your Braces Today
An orthodontist in Eagan can go beyond just installing and adjusting braces for student-athletes. They can also give you advice on how to protect them, including what mouthguard to wear and what to eat before a game.
Zirbel Orthodontics has over 250 years of orthodontic experience. We offer smile-centered care focused on providing you with the highest-quality experience.
We provide a variety of orthodontic services, including adult and pediatric orthodontics as well as traditional and ceramic braces. We’re also one of the few Eagan orthodontics offices that are platinum Invisalign® providers.
Contact us for a complimentary consultation today.