In Billings, sports are a way of life, from weekend soccer games at Amend Park to football nights at Daylis Stadium. If you’re an athlete with braces, protecting your orthodontic treatment is just as important as protecting your knees or shoulders. Dr. Hecht and the team at Montana Smiles Orthodontics want you to enjoy the activities you love without worrying about your smile. Here’s how to protect braces during sports so you can stay safe and confident on the field.
Why Braces Need Extra Protection
Braces are built to be strong, but they can still be damaged if you take a hit to the mouth. A stray basketball, a slide into home plate, or even a collision on the track can break brackets or bend wires. Injuries like these can cause pain, delay treatment, and lead to cuts inside the mouth. The right protection reduces these risks and keeps your smile on schedule.
Always Wear a Mouthguard
The best way to protect braces during sports is to wear a mouthguard. This simple device absorbs impact and shields both your braces and soft tissues from injury.
- Custom-fitted mouthguards are made specifically for patients with braces. They offer the most comfort and best protection, and Dr. Hecht can guide you on how to get one.
- Store-bought boil-and-bite mouthguards are available at sporting goods shops in Billings. While convenient, they don’t always fit well over braces and can feel bulky.
The Nationwide Children’s Hospital recommends mouthguards for all contact sports, including football, basketball, wrestling, and hockey. They’re also a smart choice for activities like mountain biking along the Rimrocks or skateboarding at local parks.
Don’t Overlook Non-Contact Sports
It’s easy to assume that only football players and wrestlers need mouthguards, but injuries can happen in almost any activity. Many orthodontic emergencies come from sports that aren’t considered high-contact.
- Basketball and soccer: Even though they aren’t classified as collision sports, accidental elbows, stray balls, and head-to-head contact are common. A mouthguard helps absorb the shock from sudden impacts.
- Track and field: Falls during hurdles or pole vaulting can lead to facial injuries. Wearing a mouthguard during practice adds an extra layer of safety.
- Cheerleading and gymnastics: These sports often involve stunts, tumbling, and fast movements where a slip or fall could easily damage braces.
- Cycling, skating, and mountain biking: Riders in Billings who enjoy the Rimrocks or skate parks know how quickly a fall can happen. A mouthguard protects if you hit the ground face-first.
Think of a mouthguard as standard equipment, just like shoes or pads. Even if your sport isn’t “contact” by definition, the risks are still there. Choosing to wear a mouthguard helps you avoid setbacks in orthodontic treatment and keeps your focus on performance instead of recovery.
Keep a Care Kit to Protect Braces During Sports
Sports seasons can get busy, but carrying a small braces care kit in your bag makes life easier. Include:
- Orthodontic wax to cover sharp edges if a wire comes loose
- A travel toothbrush and toothpaste for quick cleanups
- Extra rubber bands if your treatment uses them
- A small mirror for on-the-go checks
Having these items nearby helps you manage small issues until you can see Dr. Hecht.
Stay on Top of Orthodontic Visits
Athletes in Billings often juggle school, practice, games, and travel, so orthodontic appointments can slip down the priority list. However, those visits are just as important to your performance as your training routine. When you skip an adjustment, treatment progress slows, and small issues can become bigger setbacks.
During a sports season, your braces may experience extra stress. Even if nothing feels wrong, regular checkups allow Dr. Hecht to:
- Spot hidden wear: Wires can bend slightly from impact without breaking. Over time, this can shift teeth in unintended ways if it’s not corrected.
- Check bite alignment: Contact sports can sometimes lead to minor jaw shifts or uneven pressure. Keeping your bite in check helps prevent soreness that might affect how you play.
- Replace or tighten parts: Rubber bands, wires, and brackets all experience wear during athletic activity. Adjusting them on schedule prevents delays in your treatment.
- Give sports-specific advice: Dr. Hecht can recommend upgrades to your mouthguard or adjustments in how you manage braces care around practices and tournaments.
If you notice even small changes, like irritation on one side of your mouth after practice or a wire that feels slightly out of place, calling Montana Smiles Orthodontics promptly can make the difference between a quick fix and a more complicated repair.
Think of orthodontic visits as part of your sports maintenance, the same way you stretch before practice or sharpen skates before a hockey game. Staying proactive keeps your braces working efficiently and your focus where it belongs: on the game.
What to Do If You Get Hit in the Mouth
If an accident does happen, don’t panic. Follow these steps:
- Check for loose or broken brackets and wires.
- Use orthodontic wax to cover any sharp edges.
- Rinse with warm salt water to reduce irritation.
- Call our Billings office for an appointment as soon as possible.
Prompt care helps prevent small problems from becoming bigger ones.
Play Hard in Billings, But Stay Protected
Braces don’t have to slow you down. Whether you’re at a soccer match at Stewart Park or a basketball game at your school gym, a few simple precautions keep your treatment safe and moving forward. With the right mouthguard, a little preparation, and support from Dr. Hecht and our team at Montana Smiles Orthodontics, you can protect your braces during sports and focus on playing your best.