Brandon Boggan has been practicing orthodontics full-time since 1998. He is the Chief Smile Engineer and the CFO (Chief Fun Officer) at Ortho South in Pelham and Calera, Alabama. His love for people, marketing, and helping other orthodontists grow their practice led him to start a brand and website development and digital marketing company called Onboard Marketing Group. You can find Brandon on LinkedIn, OrthoSouth.com, or OnboardMG.com.
Playing It Safe: Ortho South's Tips for Athletes with Braces

By Dr. Brandon Boggan
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Everything You Need to Know About Mouthguards, Impact Protection, and Braces Care for Athletes
Table of Contents
Introduction
Why Sports Safety Matters with Braces
Choosing the Right Mouthguard for Braces
Sports-Specific Braces Protection Strategies
Day-to-Day Care Tips for Student Athletes
Common Emergencies and How to Handle Them
Aligners vs. Braces: What's Best for Sports
Why Ortho South Is Your Trusted Partner in Safety
Conclusion
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Introduction
Balancing
braces with athletics demands more than resilience—it requires smart preparation and trusted guidance. At
Ortho South, we've supported hundreds of student athletes in
Pelham and
Calera, Alabama, through safe participation in sports without compromising their orthodontic treatment. Under the care of
Dr. Brandon Boggan and
Dr. Zehra Syed, athletes receive proactive strategies to protect their braces while staying active. As
Alabama's most experienced aligner provider, we understand the tools needed—braces,
aligners, mouthguards, hygiene kits—to keep your progress on track.
With over 705 five-star reviews, families know they can rely on us for both treatment excellence and everyday care. Whether you're playing lacrosse under braces or tennis with
Invisalign®, this guide covers everything you need: protective equipment, daily care, and tips for preventing sports injuries. Read on to safeguard your smile while staying in the game, because safety and orthodontic success should always go hand in hand.
Why Sports Safety Matters with Braces
When wires and brackets are in your mouth, ordinary contact can become a dental risk. A stray elbow, face fall, or ball to the teeth may dislodge brackets, bend wires, or cause cuts to lips and cheeks. Such damage leads to discomfort, added appointments, and delays in treatment completion.
At Ortho South, we emphasize that protective gear isn't optional—it's critical. Student athletes with braces are especially vulnerable during rapidly changing games or high-energy drills. We walk families through real scenarios we've seen: broken wires during practice, mouth injuries during gym class, or bracket breaks during weekend tournaments. Planning—like having backup wax, a clean toothbrush, and a spare guard—helps minimize setbacks and keeps smiling strong and treatment consistent.
Choosing the Right Mouthguard for Braces
Not every guard fits braces. Off-the-shelf stock guards often slip or misalign on bracket wires and risk dislodging brackets instead of protecting them.
We recommend:
- Boil-and-bite guards: These mold over your braces after heating, conforming to both wires and brackets. You can remold them after adjustments.
- Custom orthodontic guards: Made from digital scans of your braces, they offer the highest level of comfort, breathability, and protection—even with high-impact contact.
During consultation, we help you select the best option based on your sport, facial anatomy, and appliance type. For custom options, we coordinate with vetted vendors to order precise, comfortable guards for your season ahead. We've found that athletes wearing well-fitted guards report fewer injuries and bracket breaks while playing harder and more confidently.
Training Seasons and Orthodontic Timing: Planning Your Smile Around Sports
At Ortho South, one of the most strategic steps you can take as an athlete is to time your orthodontic treatment around your training and competition calendar. If you're planning to get braces or begin aligners, we recommend scheduling your start date during off-season periods, such as summer or winter breaks. This gives your mouth time to adjust to any initial soreness or tightness before the full demands of practice and competition resume.
Athletes participating in seasonal sports—such as football in the fall or baseball in the spring—can benefit from early discussions with our team. We may tailor your treatment timeline to avoid major adjustments or hardware changes right before playoffs or key tournaments. For example, if you're in braces, we'll avoid placing new archwires or applying power chains right before an intense game week.
We also offer flexible appointment hours to accommodate student athletes juggling games, travel, and homework. Because consistency is key to results, we help ensure your treatment stays on track without interfering with your athletic performance. Aligning your smile with your sports schedule can make all the difference in both comfort and confidence throughout your journey.
Sports-Specific Braces Protection Strategies
Each sport brings unique challenges when braces are involved:
- Football & Lacrosse: Require full coverage guards with added cheek and lip protection to handle high-impact contact.
- Basketball & Volleyball: Often involve hand-to-face collisions—protective guards help absorb finger strikes or accidental ball hits.
- Soccer, Hockey, Rugby: Use guards paired with full-face shields or contoured masks to guard both braces and facial bones.
- Gymnastics, Track, Wrestling, PE Class: Even lower-contact activities can result in falls or collisions—prepare with a guard and backup hygiene kit.
Before practices or matches, we recommend wearing your guard at home to get comfortable with breathing and talking. We also suggest involving coaches or trainers so they understand your braces care needs and know how to avoid unnecessary contact during drills.
Day-to-Day Care Tips for Student Athletes
Ortho South athletes need practical routines:
- Rinse Immediately After Practice: Use water or mouth rinse to eliminate sweat or energy drink buildup around brackets.
- Brush Immediately After Games: Use a soft-bristle or V-cut orthodontic brush, paying special attention above and below brackets.
- Floss Threaders or Proxabrushes: Use these between teeth and under wires to remove hidden debris.
- Always Carry Wax: Apply it over poking brackets during post-practice soreness or irritation.
- Store Your Mouthguard Properly: Use a labeled, ventilated case to keep your mask clean and intact—never wrap it in a napkin or pocket.
- Pack a Mini Care Kit: Include a mini toothbrush, toothpaste, floss picks, wax, and mirror in your locker or sports bag.
- Hydrate Wisely: Avoid sugary and acidic drinks, which can cling to braces; water is your best option before and after activity.
These steps ensure both braces health and athletic performance go hand in hand on game day and beyond.
Common Emergencies and How to Handle Them
Accidents happen—but with preparation, you can minimize disruption:
- Bracket Breaks or Loose Wire: Stop play immediately, apply wax for safety, and call Ortho South for an emergency repair within 24 hours.
- Guard Break or Misfit: Use a backup guard if available or a boil-and-bite to remold at home until your next visit.
- Soft Tissue Injury: Rinse with warm salt water, and use wax to cushion the area until irritation subsides.
- Lost Guard or Trays: Contact us immediately—we can reorder a replacement using your digital records without delays.
- Pain or Discomfort After Practice: Start with wax, gentle rinsing, and call us early, preventing delays and ensuring smooth progression.
Being prepared for orthodontic emergencies—both at home and at school—helps prevent delays in treatment and keeps your braces progress on track.
Aligners vs. Braces: What's Best for Sports
Braces and clear aligners are both excellent options for student athletes, and each comes with its own unique set of benefits. Braces work well with mouthguards, especially in contact sports, since they stay in place and allow for a custom-fit guard to be worn throughout practices and games. Clear aligners, like Shift Aligners or Invisalign®, are removable, which can be a big advantage for athletes who prefer more flexibility and an appliance that’s less noticeable.
Because aligners need to be taken out during play, it’s important to keep track of them to avoid misplacement or delays in treatment. Meanwhile, braces provide continuous treatment during all athletic activities without needing to be removed. At Ortho South, we take into account your sport, treatment goals, and schedule to help you decide what’s right for you. Whether you wear aligners or braces, we’ll make sure your orthodontic care supports your performance on and off the field.
The Psychology of Protection: Why Confidence Impacts Performance
For student athletes, protection is more than physical—it's also psychological. Feeling safe while wearing braces gives athletes the freedom to play without fear, which significantly impacts performance. When you're constantly worried about injury or discomfort, it's hard to stay focused on your game. This is why a well-fitted orthodontic mouthguard isn't just a safety measure—it's a mental game-changer.
At Ortho South, we've seen athletes transform simply by removing the anxiety around their braces. They play harder, speak with more confidence on the field, and stop flinching during contact plays. This confidence carries over into life outside of sports as well, whether it's giving a class presentation or going to a school dance with a confident smile.
Our goal is to equip every athlete with the tools—mental and physical—to succeed. We provide reassurance through education, support through emergencies, and cheer you on through every goal scored, lap finished, and basket made. Because when you feel protected, you play with purpose—and that's where true athletic excellence begins.
Why Ortho South Is Your Trusted Partner in Safety
At Ortho South, our approach combines sports-minded awareness with expertise in both braces and aligners. Led by
Dr. Brandon Boggan and
Dr. Zehra Syed, our practice serves both
Pelham and
Calera, ensuring families have local access to orthodontic protection gear and clinical support. From choosing color-coordinated bands to fitting mouthguards and performing same-day repairs, we provide full-service care. No hidden fees—gear, wax, and repairs are part of your treatment plan. Many athletes credit us for helping them compete safely through seasons and finish treatment on time. Combining top-rated reviews, expert care, and orthodontic insurance partnerships, we make braces and sports support seamless and affordable.
Conclusion
You shouldn't have to choose between orthodontic treatment and athletic ambition—when you know how to protect your smile properly, you have no limit to what you can do. By investing in braces-safe gear, following post-practice care tips, and relying on expert backup from
Ortho South, student athletes can pursue every sport with confidence and alignment intact. Whether you're in braces or aligners, our team ensures your path is safe and successful. Get ready to train harder, compete smarter, and always
Smile On!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I play any sport with braces?
Yes—with a properly fitted orthodontic mouthguard, most contact and non-contact sports are safe for athletes.
Are aligners safer than braces during sports?
Both aligners and braces are safe for athletes—they just offer different benefits. Aligners are removable and discreet, while braces work seamlessly with mouthguards for consistent protection during contact sports.
What type of mouthguard should I use?
We recommend either boil-and-bite or custom orthodontic mouthguards, which are molded to fit braces securely.
What if my bracket breaks during a game?
Stop playing, use wax if needed, and call Ortho South for prompt, same-day repairs.
Should I brush more often if I play sports?
Yes—rinsing after practice and brushing thoroughly at bedtime helps prevent debris and decay during treatment.
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