Playing sports is something many children – and adults – love, so when your child is told they need braces, it might come as a bit of a shock.

Will they still be able to play contact sports? Will they have to miss out on their favourite team games, or will they need to take special precautions?

Don't panic – getting braces is totally normal, and it's something that we look after every day. We think it's important for you and your children to be active, and there's no need to stop just because of your teeth. So please read on for our top tips about playing sports with braces.

You can still play sports

But you'll need a mouthguard to protect your brace. Talk to us about the sport you or your child participate in, and we'll find the best protection for you. You'll definitely need a guard for high-impact sports such as football, hockey and rugby, and it's also recommended for other activities that might be a bit risky. Anything that could give you a blunt-force injury to the face can damage your brace or teeth and have a negative impact on your orthodontic treatment, so take care!

Look after your mouthguard

Just like caring for your teeth and braces, you need to clean your mouthguard every day that you use it. It's simple – just clean it with toothpaste and a brush, or rinse it with a special solution to avoid bacteria and fungi growing on it. Try to clean it before and after wearing it, and always keep it in its special case when you're not using it. And if it gets damaged, you'll need to replace it straight away.

Tell us if you get injured

While playing sports is usually straightforward, injuries do happen. If you hurt your mouth during your activity, give us a call so that we can check everything's OK. Sometimes brackets can break, gums can bleed, and you may have damaged your teeth if it was a forceful blow. We'll take a look, correct any damage, and inspect your mouthguard to see if it needs replacing. If it's serious, of course, go straight to A&E.

Mouthguards for braces are a bit different

Most mouthguards are designed to fit directly over your teeth, so if you have a brace, it needs to accommodate that. The boil and bite mouthguards offer flexibility around your changing teeth and gums and can be remoulded several times as your teeth move. If you're using Invisalign clear aligners, you should remove your retainer and use a mouthguard on its own during sports. But a custom-made orthodontic guard might be better for some people. Talk to us, and we'll make sure you have the best one for your teeth.