April is National Facial Protection Month, which makes it the perfect time to talk about one of the easiest ways to help protect your smile during sports and active play: wearing a mouthguard.
At First Impression Orthodontics, we see lots of active kids, teens, and adults throughout Northern Virginia, and if there’s one thing we always want patients to remember during sports season, it’s this:
If you’re playing sports, your smile deserves protection too.
Let’s talk about the purpose of a mouthguard in sports, the types of mouthguard for sports, whether you can wear one with braces or clear aligners, and what kind of protection makes the most sense for you or your child.
What is National Facial Protection Month?
National Facial Protection Month is observed every April to raise awareness about sports-related injuries to the teeth, lips, cheeks, jaw, mouth, and face.
It’s a great reminder that while uniforms and gear matter, protective equipment for the face and mouth matters too. That can include forms of protection like mouthguards, helmets, face masks, face shields, sport goggles, or protective cages or visors.
For sports like hockey, lacrosse, baseball, softball, and football, full facial protection is especially important. But even in sports that seem less “high impact,” accidental collisions, elbows, falls, and balls to the face can happen fast.
And when they do, your teeth are often right in the line of fire.
Why Wear a Mouthguard?
A mouthguard may seem like a small piece of gear, but it can make a very big difference.
What do mouthguards do? What’s the purpose of mouthguard in sports?
A sports mouthguard is a protective device worn over your teeth to help absorb and distribute the force of impact. It acts like a cushion between your teeth and the impact of a hit, fall, or collision.
That means if you get hit in the face during a game or practice, a mouthguard can help reduce the risk of:
- Chipped teeth
- Broken teeth
- Knocked-out teeth
- Cuts to the lips, cheeks, or tongue
- Damage to braces or wires
- Jaw injuries
For athletes in contact or fast-moving sports, that protection matters.
Did you know…
According to studies by the American Dental Association (ADA), mouthguard users are between 82% and 93% less likely to suffer dentofacial injuries. That’s a pretty significant reason to wear one!
What is the Best Mouthguard for Sports?
The best sports mouthguard is one that fits well, feels comfortable, and actually gets worn. That said, there are a few common types of mouthguard for sports, each with its own pros and cons:
Types of Mouthguard for Sports
1. Stock mouthguards:
These are the pre-made, one-size-fits-most mouthguards. They’re inexpensive and easy to find, but they’re often bulky, uncomfortable, and can make it harder to talk or breathe.
2. Boil-and-bite mouthguards:
These mouthguards are softened in hot water, then molded to your teeth. They provide a better fit than stock mouthguards and are more affordable than custom mouthguards, but they’re not ideal for braces or aligners, and not designed to fit over orthodontic appliances.
3. Orthodontic or appliance-friendly mouthguards:
These are specifically designed to fit over braces or in some cases aligners. They offer more room for brackets or trays, are more comfortable for ortho patients, and safer for active treatment.
4. Custom mouthguards:
Custom mouthguards are professionally made for your teeth and bite. They provide the best fit, best comfort, and often best protection but can be more expensive and would require updating as your teeth move during orthodontic treatment.
For many orthodontic patients, an orthodontic-friendly athletic mouthguard is the most practical choice.
Can You Wear a Mouthguard With Braces?
Yes, and you absolutely should. If you have braces and play sports, a mouthguard for braces is one of the most important pieces of protective gear you can wear.
In fact, braces make mouthguards even more important because an impact to the mouth can lead to:
- Cuts to the lips or cheeks
- Broken brackets
- Bent wires
- Discomfort
- Treatment delays
A properly fitting athletic mouthguard for braces helps create a cushion between your braces and the inside of your mouth while also protecting your teeth and jaw.
What kind of mouthguard is best for braces?
We often recommend orthodontic-friendly brands, like Shock Doctor™ and SISU®.
Shock Doctor offers a special line of braces-fit mouthguards designed to fit over braces, and they can also work for some clear aligners patients during sports.
Can You Wear a Mouthguard With Clear Aligners?
Yes, but it’s important to use the right kind. If you play sports while in aligners, you should use a mouthguard that is designed to fit over aligners, rather than trying to use a standard boil-and-bite version.
We recommend both Shock Doctor™ and SISU® brands for orthodontic-friendly mouthguards. A good clear aligners mouthguard for sports should fit securely, feel comfortable, and not distort your aligners.
Do Clear Aligners Work as a Mouthguard?
No, clear aligners do not work as a mouthguard. Even though clear aligners cover your teeth, they are not made to absorb sports impact the way a true athletic mouthguard is.
Your aligners are designed to move teeth, not protect them from a stray elbow, a fast-moving ball, or a fall. Ideally, you should wear your aligners and a sports mouthguard over them. That gives you the best combination of smile protection, comfort, and continued treatment progress.
If it’s too bulky or uncomfortable for you to wear both during a game or practice, it’s okay to remove your aligners for about an hour while you play, as long as you put them back in as soon as you’re done.
That’s much better than skipping the mouthguard entirely.
Best rule of thumb:
- Best case: wear both aligners and a mouthguard
- If needed: remove aligners temporarily, but still wear the mouthguard
- Don’t rely on clear aligners alone for sports protection
How to Wear a Mouthguard Correctly
A good mouthguard should fit snugly but comfortably, stay in place without constant biting or clenching, allow you to breathe and speak reasonably well, and cover and protect the teeth it’s meant to protect.
You should wear your mouthguard during games, practices, scrimmages, active drills, and any activity where facial impact is possible.
Mouthguard Care Tips
To keep your mouthguard clean and in good shape:
- Rinse it before and after each use
- Clean it regularly with cool water and a toothbrush
- Store it in a ventilated case
- Keep it away from heatReplace it if it tears, warps, or no longer fits well
And if you wear braces or clear aligners, bring it with you to your orthodontic appointments if you’re unsure whether it still fits properly.
Other Facial Protection Matters Too
Mouthguards aren’t the only form of facial protection! Depending on the sport, athletes may also need helmets, face cages, face shields, chin guards, sport goggles, or visors.
For example:
- Hockey players often need helmets + cages or shields
- Baseball and softball players may need face guards or batting helmets
- Lacrosse players may need goggles or helmet protection depending on the level of play
- Football players need properly fitted helmet and face mask systems
The goal is always the same: protect the smile, the jaw, and the face before an injury happens
Why This Matters Even More During Orthodontic Treatment
If you or your child is in braces or clear aligner treatment, protecting the smile is even more important. Orthodontic treatment is an investment in confidence, health, function, and long-term smile stability.
A sports injury can interrupt that progress fast. Wearing the right mouthguard helps protect your teeth, your appliance, your comfort, and your treatment timeline.
That’s why Dr. Lu, and Dr. Schneider always encourage active patients to protect the smiles they’re working so hard to build.
Protect Your Smile This Sports Season
During National Facial Protection Month, it’s a great time to check that your sports gear is doing its job.
And if you’re active in sports, the most important takeaway is simple: Wear the mouthguard. The right protection can make a huge difference.
If you have questions about what kind of mouthguard is best for your smile, braces, or aligners, our team at First Impression Orthodontics is always happy to help.
With an orthodontic office in Alexandria, VA, we’re here to help you keep your smile protected both on and off the field.
You can reach out to us with any questions, or book your complimentary consultation with us!
