Now the wrestling season is underway, you have a lot to do between training, keeping your grades up, and making sure you’re saving enough time to relax from the stress of high school. But one thing that sometimes takes a backseat in everyone’s mind is protection. 

Wrestling is not an easy sport. It’s full contact and you could get hurt as with any contact sport. That’s why wearing a mouthguard is so important. It keeps those pearly whites safe. But, if you’ve got braces, can you really fit a mouthguard too?

Getting a mouthguard for braces

The answer is yes! And it’s essential to keep you free from long-lasting injuries. It will also save you a lot of time and potentially thousands of pounds at the dentist and doctor. 

Wearing a mouthguard with your braces doesn’t just protect you. When you have braces, you could potentially injure them, so you’ll be doing them a favour too.  

What kind of mouthguard should you get?

There are two options to choose from. You can get a custom-made mouthguard from your dentist, however, these run on the more expensive side of things. And, considering they design braces to move your teeth, they won’t last very long as your smile changes shape. 

The best option could be a boil-and-bite mouthguard. Generic off-the-shelf mouthguards do little good, as they’re not designed to fit over braces. But boil-and-bite gum shields mould to the shape of your mouth, making them much more comfortable and offering better protection. 

The benefit of boil-and-bite mouthguards 

Mouthguards cushion the face, reducing the risk of broken teeth. There have been many studies into the protection offered by mouthguards. They reduce the risk of mild traumatic brain injuries and concussions because they absorb shock from direct blows to the jaw area. This protects not only teeth but also lips, tongues, and the inner lining of cheeks. 

But, when you have braces, the protection is even more essential. They prevent damage to the brackets, serving as a barrier between your braces, cheeks and lips, lowering your risk of injury and damage to the brace. 

While medically necessary braces are free for children under the age of 18, for others they could cost up to £5,000. Repairing such expensive equipment isn’t cheap. Purchasing a mouthguard is small change compared to this, so they’re well worth the investment in the long run. 

Alternatives

Some people find that boil-and-bite mouthguards don’t quite fit right. But, if your sport which requires mouthguard protection, it could be worth considering other forms of teeth-straightening. 

For example, Invisalign braces are easy to clean, you can eat whatever you want, and they’re removable. So, when the big match comes, you can easily use any mouthguard you like to make sure you’re protected from injury. That final point is the key one, though. Always make sure you have the right protection.

We want everyone to be able to protect themselves while they’re in the game. Our Power-Fit mouthguards mould to your teeth, ensuring you get the best protection. Take a look on our website for our entire range of gum shields.