Protecting Your Braces Braces are great for correcting misaligned, crowded, or crooked teeth. They can help gently move the teeth back to a specific position, making your teeth straight and improving the appearance of your smile. Properly aligned teeth not only look attractive, but they can also help protect you from future dental diseases like tooth decay and cavities, and are easy to clean. However, misaligned teeth may affect your social life and lead to a lack of confidence, especially when you smile in public. For crooked, crowded, and, misaligned teeth, braces can be an excellent solution. Our team here at Dr. Jeffrey Kashner Orthodontics is happy to guide you on how to protect your braces if you wear them now or plan to have them in the future. Braces and Playing SportsBraces work by placing pressure on your teeth for a duration of time, carefully moving them into a specific position. They straighten them so that you may improve your bite and have a beautiful smile. However, if you love playing sports (including taking part in contact sports), you do need to protect your braces to avoid damaging them or causing injuries to your mouth and teeth. Some of the more common injuries related to athletes wearing braces can include broken or chipped teeth, lacerations to the tongue, lips, or cheeks, root fractures, and dislocation of the temporomandibular joint. If you are at risk of this, we may advise an occlusive device to help protect you when playing sports. How to Protect Your BracesAmong the best ways of protecting your braces is by the use of a mouthguard. A mouthguard can help prevent injuries like fractured teeth, bleeding gums, and broken brackets. They work by preventing the force of impact from directly reaching the teeth. They come in a variety of styles (depending on their function) and can be made to cover both the upper and lower teeth. We can help fit you with a custom mouthguard, which can be both highly effective and simple to use. Benefits of Protecting Your BracesMouthguards are the ideal way of protecting your braces while you indulge in sports. An impact on your face can damage the brackets or other orthodontic appliances, but mouthguards help to prevent this from happening. Mouthguards also cushion your cheek and gums by acting as a barrier between your cheek and braces. If you do get hit while playing, the chances of injury can be minimized. We can help you choose a mouthguard that will fit and protect properly. Duration of TreatmentThe time you need to wear braces depends on a variety of factors, such as the severity of your condition and how healthy your gums and supporting tissues are. The amount of space in your mouth, the distance your teeth must move, and how you follow the care instructions will also determine the time you will need during your treatment. If you wish to use braces at some point, or you are currently wearing braces, you may not know how to protect and take care of them. To learn more about protecting your braces, please visit us at Dr. Jeffrey Kashner Orthodontics by calling us at 253-630-3331 today. Our team is dedicated to helping you correct the alignment of your teeth while also safeguarding them from damage and harm. |
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