- Consult
- Records
- Bond
- Adjust
- Debond
- Retain
keep playing everything. Use an orthodontic mouthguard (not a standard boil-and-bite moulded tight to brackets) for any contact or ball sport. After any hit to the mouth, check hardware and call us if anything moved.
The right guard matters
Orthodontic mouthguards are made from higher-grade material with room for brackets and moving teeth — they protect lips from hardware and hardware from impact. A standard boil-and-bite moulded tightly over braces can lock onto brackets and resist tooth movement; if it’s the only option, mould it loosely. Ask our clinic — many, including ours, provide or recommend specific guards.
Which sports need one
Always: hockey, football, rugby, martial arts, boxing, lacrosse. Strongly: basketball, soccer, baseball/softball, volleyball, skateboarding, skiing and snowboarding. Optional: swimming, track, tennis, golf — though sprinters’ elbows have found teammates’ mouths before.
If you take a hit
- Check lips and cheeks — wax over anything that cut or rubs.
- Check every bracket and the wire — wiggle test with a clean finger.
- Anything loose, bent or poking: the emergency guide, and call us. A tooth that’s been knocked and feels loose or very sore is a same-day call.
Invisalign athletes
Trays out, sport-specific mouthguard in, trays back immediately after — and count the hours, because the 22-hour rule doesn’t take game days off. Two-sport teens with long practice schedules sometimes find braces simpler for exactly this reason (the honest comparison).
How it works at our practice
We recommend and fit orthodontic mouthguards for contact-sport patients, and we see sports injuries the same day. Aligner athletes are told plainly to count the hours out — game days don't pause the 22-hour rule. Nothing about braces takes a child off a team.
Frequently asked questions
Can you play football or hockey with braces?
Yes, with an orthodontic mouthguard. Contact sports are fine.
What mouthguard do I need for braces?
An orthodontic guard with room for brackets and moving teeth — not a boil-and-bite moulded tight over the hardware.
What if I get hit in the mouth?
Check lips, brackets and wire; wax anything sharp; call us the same day if anything moved or a tooth feels loose.
Can I play sports with Invisalign?
Yes — trays out, sport guard in, trays back immediately after.
Related reading
- Emergencies — after a hit
- Instruments — the other after-school activity
- The 22-hour rule — for aligner athletes
The bottom line
Play everything. Wear an orthodontic guard for contact and ball sports. After a hit, check the hardware and call if anything moved. Braces are not a reason to sit out.
If it were our own family
An orthodontic mouthguard for hockey and soccer, a check of the hardware after any hit, and a call if a tooth felt loose. Nothing about braces would take our own children off a team.
What people also search for
“Best mouthguard for braces”
An orthodontic guard with room for brackets and moving teeth; ask us for a recommendation.
“Can you play hockey with braces?”
Yes, with an orthodontic guard.
“Invisalign and sports”
Trays out, guard in, trays back after — hours counted.
The bottom line
Play everything, guard properly, check the hardware after a hit. Braces are not a reason to sit out.