While you probably already know the benefits of braces for your teeth (perfect smile, beautifully straight teeth, decreased chance of needing treatment when you’re older), there are some parts of the treatment that may seem like they kind of suck. Sport, and whether or not you can actually play it, is probably one of them. Fear not however! If you love your rugby or water polo, the chances are good that we can find a solution to ensure straight teeth AND regular Saturdays on the pitch/court/pool.

You may have heard that sport and braces are a no-go zone. And while there is some truth to that statement (a footy ball in the mouth when you’ve got braces isn’t going to be a pleasant experience), with careful management, the right type of braces for your teeth and a few preventative strategies, you can still enjoy the activities you love. The last thing you want when undergoing orthodontic treatment is for it to interfere too much with the rest of your life and at Inner West Orthodontics we understand that. That's why we always try and work with you to find the best possible solution for your lifestyle.

While certain low contact sports (think things like swimming and tennis), won't be impacted at all by your new braces, medium to high contact sports do have the potential to interfere with treatment. This is due to the increased chance of your mouth being subjected to damage. So what can you do? A couple of things!

Wear a mouthguard

The easiest course of action for protecting your new braces is to have a properly fitted mouthguard. By 'properly fitted', we don’t mean one off the shelf that's pre-moulded or that you 'boil and bite' to get a decent fit. A custom-fitted mouthguard offers the best protection and will be a lot more comfortable. These types of guards are made by taking an impression of your mouth using a soft material that gradually hardens, creating an exact replica of your mouth. A dental technician then creates a flexible plastic mould that fits perfectly over your braces and provide strong, flexible protection. The whole procedure takes less than half an hour and you'll be able to pick up your brand new mouthguard within a couple of days.

Consider Invisalign ^®

Invisalign is the new kid on the orthodontic block and uses removable aligners (similar to dental plates), that you change every fortnight. Each aligner is individually fitted to your teeth and as you wear and replace them, your teeth will move, slowly but surely, into the correct position. The benefit of Invisalign when it comes to sport is that you can take out your aligners while you're on the field and pop them straight back in afterwards, meaning there's no risk of damage to the appliance or your teeth while you play. It's recommended that you wear a professionally fitted mouthguard during any contact sport and as you're investing a lot of time in straightening your teeth, it's a good idea to switch your Invisalign for a mouthguard at the beginning of your game. You can speak to us during your initial consultation about whether Invisalign is suitable for your teeth.

Talk to us about invisible braces

Lingual or invisible teeth braces are attached behind your teeth (hence the 'invisible' name), meaning you can’t see them when you smile! They do the same job as traditional braces for your teeth though they are fitted in a slightly different way and can take a bit of getting used to. When it comes to sport, lingual braces can't be impacted the same way that your standard braces can as your teeth protect them a little more but contact sport can still be a risk and as always, it's best to speak to your dentist about getting a mouthguard fitted.

At Inner West Orthodontics, we are experts in orthodontics. We've seen a lot of mouths and treated hundreds of patients all with different treatment needs. Give us a call today to discuss how we might be able to help.