From basketball, soccer, and football to baseball, hockey and lacrosse, you name the sport, and we’ve seen the athletes come through our seven Central Indiana offices. While our Invisalign patients can safely wear their aligners during physical activity, our patients in braces do run the risk of damaging their teeth or brackets while playing sports. And so, choosing the best mouthguard for braces can help ensure you or your child remains physically active throughout orthodontic treatment.

Orthodontic Mouthguards Versus Regular Mouthguards

Mouthguards come in two different options: regular or orthodontic. Regular mouthguards are made from thermoplastic material that you can heat mold to your teeth. However, as your teeth move with your braces, the mouthguard doesn’t fit as well over time. Furthermore, if a mouthguard fits too tightly, it can actually work against the way braces are straightening your teeth.

For these reasons, we highly recommend choosing an orthodontic mouthguard for braces to receive ultimate protection. These mouthguards are made from high-grade silicone, featuring large rubber flanges that fit under your lip to prevent them from being too tight or catching on your brackets.

Finding the Best Type of Mouthguard for Braces

While many products exist, here are four different types of mouthguard manufacturers to choose from when protecting your teeth.

Shock Doctor

Shock Doctor makes mouthguards specifically for athletes with braces that fit upper teeth brackets and prevent irritating cuts and scratches. One of the slimmest and most lightweight options, these mouthguards adjust as your teeth shift, allowing you to continue wearing them throughout your treatment process.

Vettex

Vettex manufactures mouthguards with lip protection, which stop you from accidentally biting yourself. While a bit larger than other options, these mouthguards tend to be more lightweight and cost-effective.

Gladiator

As the name may apply, martial artists and wrestlers prefer Gladiator mouthguards because they typically stay in your mouth easier and boast a custom fit. This brand also allows you to make a mold of your teeth at home and send it in for easier personalization.

Tapout

Unlike the other brands mentioned here, Tapout can be remolded to your teeth multiple times throughout your orthodontic treatment. They boast a unique feature that allows airflow to enter your teeth and jaw. These tend to be a little more expensive than the other options, but are easy-to-wear and don’t inhibit your natural speech.

Our Complimentary Mouthguard

If none of those mouthguards work for you — or if you just want to save some money — we also offer a complimentary mouthguard to our patients. These mouthguards come in two sizes and allow room for braces and tooth movement without needing to be boiled. Just ask us, and we’ll provide one for you!

How to Take Care of Your Orthodontic Mouthguard

Bacteria can easily get stuck inside your mouthguard and cause issues with your teeth. It’s important to clean your mouthguard after every time you wear it. We recommend using a soft toothbrush with toothpaste to gently clean the mouthguard. Whenever not in use, make sure to keep your mouthguard in a case so you don’t accidentally leave it somewhere, throw it away or sit on it.

Unfortunately, injuries can still happen even with a mouthguard. If you do sustain an injury while wearing a mouthguard, don’t hesitate to give us a call. We’re happy to take a look at your braces and make sure no serious issues or injuries occurred.

And if you are an athlete or have a child who plays sports and doesn’t have a mouthguard, come see us. We want to make sure you know all of your options for mouthguards, so you can continue playing sports.