Braces or any other type of orthodontic treatment cause movement of the teeth and the supporting structures to provide the patient with straighter dentition. Orthodontics is a field of dentistry that uses gentle force to slowly realign the teeth in such a way that it exerts effort on the alveolar sockets and the periodontal ligaments. If you plan on receiving orthodontic treatment in Long Island, you might wonder if getting braces will mean an end to your athletic lifestyle. The answer is no. You can play sports even if you have braces as long as you take necessary precautions. Wearing a custom-made mouthguard will prevent or minimize possible injury and trauma to your dentition. Whether you wear an orthodontic appliance or not, accidents can happen while you are playing sports. Since the teeth are sensitive to blunt force, any responsible player should invest in a mouthguard to lessen possible harm to the teeth should the face come in contact with sporting equipment, especially when the game does not involve wearing facial protection.
Mouthguards must be worn when playing any sport wherein deliberate or accidental trauma to the face or jaw may result in trauma. Patients with braces and those who participate in sports like boxing, baseball, rugby, football, lacrosse, basketball, martial arts, hockey, figure skating, skiing, wrestling or even water polo should invest in this dental appliance. By wearing a mouthguard, the patient can be assured that should a blow to the jaw occur, the risk of injuring the jaw area will be drastically reduced.
Dental trauma can lead to the loss of teeth and more severe injuries like jaw fracture. Local health laws have made mouthguards compulsory for many sports to lower or reduce the risk of harm to athletes. Many studies have indicated that low compliance is the major cause of many dental related sports injuries. You do not have to give up the sports you love while wearing braces. However, you should protect your orthodontic investment by wearing a mouthguard.
