{"id":299,"date":"2026-07-02T18:55:47","date_gmt":"2026-07-02T18:55:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.simplyortho.com\/blog\/?p=299"},"modified":"2026-07-28T19:17:06","modified_gmt":"2026-07-28T19:17:06","slug":"mouthguards-and-braces-how-to-protect-your-smile","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.simplyortho.com\/blog\/mouthguards-and-braces-how-to-protect-your-smile\/","title":{"rendered":"Mouthguards and Braces: How to Protect Your Smile on the Field"},"content":{"rendered":"
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If you or your child plays sports and wears braces<\/a>, protecting their smile should be an absolute priority. Between weekly practices, games, and everyday accidents, a properly fitted mouthguard is one of the simplest ways to prevent an orthodontic emergency or any other type of injury to the teeth or braces. But how exactly do mouthguards work when you have brackets and wires in the mix? Here\u2019s what you need to know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Why Mouthguards Matter for Athletes with Braces<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As durable as braces are, they aren\u2019t indestructible. A stray elbow, a foul ball or thrown pass, or an accidental fall can damage brackets, bend wires, or injure the soft tissue inside the mouth. But without a mouthguard, that same impact can also cause more serious harm, like chipped teeth, cut lips, or a knocked-out tooth. For patients currently undergoing orthodontic treatment, a mouthguard acts as a cushion between the braces and the inside of the mouth, absorbing shock and reducing the risk of injuries or setbacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Type of Mouthguard Works Best with Braces?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Not all mouthguards are created equally, and for those with braces, extra considerations need to be taken. Here are the three most common types of mouthguards and how they may benefit orthodontic patients:<\/p>\n\n\n\n