Learn how Elevated Ortho helps student athletes stay active while protecting their smiles.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Yes, you can play sports with braces. We have guided Kern County student athletes through full seasons without missing games.
- A mouthguard is the most important thing in your bag. Research in Sports Medicine found athletes without one had more than twice the risk of mouth, jaw, and face injuries.
- Aligner patients need a mouthguard too. Take the aligners out, put them in their case, and put the mouthguard in.
- Over-the-counter mouthguards can work well. With braces, the fitting step matters more than the price.
- A loose bracket during a game is not an emergency. Cover it with wax, save any loose piece, and call 661-665-7600.
Introduction
At Elevated Ortho, we have been answering the same question for more than 35 years: can my kid still play sports with braces on? The answer is yes.
Athletes with braces play football on Friday nights, wrestle at weekend tournaments, swim, run track, spike volleyballs, and march at halftime, right here in Bakersfield, without putting their teeth or their treatment at risk. What changes when you start braces is not whether you play. It is what goes in your gym bag.
This guide covers what matters: mouthguards, aligners on game day, building your own sports kit for braces, and what to do when something comes loose mid-game. Our goal is simple. We want you playing your sport, protecting your healthy smile, and finishing treatment on schedule.
Meet Our Doctors
Dr. Don Montano has practiced orthodontics exclusively since 1987 and has cared for Bakersfield families for more than 35 years. He trained at the University of California, San Francisco, and the University of Washington.
Dr. Tae Kwon is also part of the Elevated Ortho team, a board-certified orthodontist trained at the University of California, Los Angeles, and the University of Connecticut.
Together we have elevated more than 15,000 smiles and earned more than 1,090 five-star Google reviews from families across Kern County.
Yes, You Can Play Sports with Braces
Let us clear up the biggest worry first. Braces do not mean sitting out a season.
We hear from families who have already talked themselves out of it. A sophomore makes varsity, and the plan becomes "we will start after the season." Then club season starts, then a showcase. Two years pass, and treatment that could have been nearly finished has not begun.
You do not have to make that trade. Athletes wear braces through full seasons in every sport we see in Kern County, and the adjustment is smaller than most expect. There is a short stretch of soreness after placement and after adjustments. For the honest details, we covered what the first week with braces is really like separately.
Braces also do not slow you down. They have no effect on your wind, your speed, or your reaction time. Within a couple of weeks, most athletes stop thinking about them entirely.
Why a Mouthguard Matters More Once You Have Braces
A mouthguard isn't just a braces accessory. It's one of the most important pieces of protective equipment any athlete can wear. Whether you have braces or not, wearing a mouthguard during contact sports can dramatically reduce your risk of injuries to your teeth, mouth, jaw, and face. In fact, a large review published in Sports Medicine found that athletes who didn't wear a mouthguard were more than twice as likely to experience these types of injuries.
Braces change the math slightly, and in a good way. Brackets sit on the front of your teeth, so a mouthguard does two jobs at once. It cushions your teeth and keeps your lips and cheeks away from the hardware.
The rule books already agree. High school athletic associations require wrestlers in braces to wear a mouthguard, and the American Dental Association(ADA) recommends a properly fitted mouthguard across a long list of sports, including basketball, soccer, volleyball, baseball, softball, martial arts, and gymnastics. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends the same.
So the answer is simple. Wear a mouthguard, and wear it at practice too, where most of your reps happen.
Braces or Aligners: What Changes on Game Day
If you are in Invisalign clear aligners, your game day routine is short. Take the aligners out, put them in their case, put your mouthguard in, and go play.
Aligners are not protective equipment. They are thin and designed to move teeth, not absorb impact. Leaving them in during a contact sport can crack or warp them.
| On game day | With braces | With clear aligners |
|---|---|---|
| Do you remove anything? | No, braces stay on | Yes, remove the aligners |
| Mouthguard needed? | Yes, one with room for brackets | Yes, a standard fitted guard |
| Where does gear go? | Wax stays in your bag | Aligners go in their case |
| Right after the game | Rinse guard, check brackets | Rinse aligners, put them back in |
| What to watch for | A guard pressing on brackets | Losing or warping aligners |
One detail trips people up. Aligners work on wear time, usually 20 to 22 hours a day. Taking them out for a game is fine and expected. What matters is putting them back in right afterward, so keep the case somewhere obvious.
Choosing the Right Mouthguard for Braces
There are three basic types, and all three can protect you. What matters is that it fits and you wear it.
- Stock mouthguards. Ready-made and inexpensive. The ADA considers these the least effective option because they cannot adapt to your mouth. Fine as a backup, not an everyday guard.
- Boil and bite mouthguards. The most common choice. You soften the guard in hot water and shape it to your teeth. These work well, and the ADA notes a dental professional can help with the final molding when you have orthodontic appliances. Look for the ADA Seal of Acceptance, then bring it in so we can fit it around your brackets.
- Mouthguards from our office. We provide mouthguards at our Bakersfield office for a fee, and the right one depends on your case. For patients in braces, we use an orthodontic mouthguard with extra room over the brackets. Once braces come off, a custom guard made from a scan of your teeth gives the closest fit.
One note about fit. Your teeth are moving, which is the point. A guard molded snugly in month two can feel tight by month six. If yours starts pinching, tell us. The ADA patient site also covers how mouthguards work and how to care for them.
Build Your Own Sports Kit for Braces
This is our favorite recommendation, and it costs almost nothing. Build a small pouch that lives in your bag permanently. Not the bag for one sport. The bag you always carry.
YOUR SPORTS KIT FOR BRACES
- 1. Orthodontic wax. The most useful item here. It covers a poking wire or shifted bracket in seconds. Ask at any visit, and we will send you home with plenty.
- 2. Your mouthguard, plus a spare. Guards get left on benches. A backup means you never have a reason to play without one.
- 3. A travel toothbrush and floss threaders. Team meals happen, and cleaning up keeps treatment on track.
- 4. A small mirror. Placing wax is far easier when you can see what you are doing.
- 5. Your aligner case, if you wear aligners. Pick a bright color. Never wrap aligners in a napkin.
- 6. A water bottle. Rinsing after you eat is the easiest habit in orthodontic care.
- 7. Our number saved in your phone: 661-665-7600.
If Something Comes Loose During a Game
Take a breath. A loose bracket is not an emergency and almost never means starting over.
WHAT TO DO, IN ORDER
- 1. Check it. Most loose brackets are still on the wire and have simply slid a little. Annoying, not dangerous.
- 2. Cover it with wax. A small piece over the bracket or wire end stops the rubbing right away.
- 3. Save any piece that comes off and bring it with you. It helps us see exactly what happened.
- 4. You can usually finish the game. If it is not painful, not cutting your cheek, and the wax is holding, keep playing.
- 5. Stop and get checked if there is bleeding that will not stop, a tooth feels loose, or you took a hard hit to the mouth or jaw.
- 6. Call us at 661-665-7600. We will get you in and take care of it. We would rather hear from you right away than have you wait weeks and let treatment drift.
What Athletes Ask Us, Sport by Sport
Different sports bring different questions. Here is what comes up most.
| Sport | Mouthguard? | What athletes ask us |
|---|---|---|
| Football, wrestling, martial arts | Always | Wrestlers in braces are required to wear one under high school rules |
| Basketball, soccer, water polo | Yes | Elbows and stray hands cause more mouth injuries than people expect |
| Baseball and softball | Yes | Bad hops, foul tips, and collisions at the plate |
| Volleyball, cheer, gymnastics | Recommended | Falls and knees are the real risk here, not contact |
| Track, swimming, marching band | Usually not | Braces do not affect breathing or endurance. Brass and woodwind players may need two weeks to adjust |
If your sport is not on this list, just ask. We would rather give you a straight answer than a blanket rule.
Why Bakersfield Families Trust Elevated Orthodontics
For more than 35 years, Elevated Orthodontics has been Bakersfield's trusted home for braces and Invisalign. If you are weighing Bakersfield braces and aligner options for an athlete in your family, here is what sets our practice apart.
- More than 35 years of experience, led by board-certified orthodontists Dr. Montano and Dr. Kwon
- Voted Bakersfield's best orthodontic practice 11 years in a row, with more than 1,090 five-star Google reviews
- Top 1 Percent Invisalign Provider in North America, Invisalign Diamond Apex, recipient of Invisalign's Every Day Hero Award, and the only top-tier Invisalign provider in Bakersfield
- More than 15,000 smiles elevated across Bakersfield, Delano, Tehachapi, Taft, Shafter, Wasco, Arvin, Lamont, Kern County, and surrounding areas
- Dr. Montano is a Schulman Study Group board member and founder and national president of the Smile for a Lifetime Foundation
- Free consultations, flexible payment options, and both in-office and virtual visits
Conclusion
So, can you play sports with braces? Yes, and you should. Keep playing, wear a mouthguard at every practice and game, build a small kit for your bag, and call us the moment something feels off. That is the whole plan. When treatment ends, protecting the result comes down to one more easy habit, which is wearing your retainer.
If you are weighing whether to start treatment during a season, we would love to talk it through. Picking an orthodontist in Bakersfield is a big decision for a family, and a free consultation is the easiest way to get real answers for your athlete.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you play sports with braces?
Yes. Braces do not keep you out of any sport, including football, wrestling, soccer, and basketball. The only real change is wearing a mouthguard that fits comfortably over your brackets, at practices and games. Most athletes stop noticing their braces within a couple of weeks.
Do I need a special mouthguard for braces?
You need one that fits over your brackets, which usually means an orthodontic mouthguard with extra room built in. A boil-and-bite guard works if molded carefully, and the American Dental Association notes a dental professional can help with that molding. Bring yours in, and we will check the fit.
Can I wear a regular mouthguard over braces?
Often yes, with care. The concern is fit. If a guard is molded too tightly against your brackets, it gets uncomfortable and harder to seat as teeth move. Look for the ADA Seal of Acceptance, follow the heating instructions, and let us check it.
Can you play contact sports with Invisalign?
Yes, but take the aligners out first. They are made to move teeth, not absorb impact, so they offer no protection and can crack under a hard hit. Store them in their case, wear a mouthguard, and put them back in as soon as you finish. Prompt wear time keeps you on schedule.
What if a bracket comes loose during a game?
Stay calm, because this is not an emergency. Cover the bracket or wire with orthodontic wax, and save any piece that comes off so you can bring it in. If it is not painful and not cutting your cheek, you can usually finish the game. Then call us at 661-665-7600. We are here to help.
Should I get braces during my sports season?
There is rarely a reason to wait. Athletes start mid-season all the time, and the brief soreness after placement fades within a few days. Delaying costs more than people realize, since one season becomes club season and then the next school year. Come in for a free consultation.
Sources
- Knapik, J. J., Hoedebecke, B. L., Rogers, G. G., Sharp, M. A., & Marshall, S. W. (2019). Effectiveness of mouthguards for the prevention of orofacial injuries and concussions in sports: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Sports Medicine, 49(8), 1217-1232. DOI: 10.1007/s40279-019-01121-w. Read full study.
- Labella, C. R., Smith, B. W., & Sigurdsson, A. (2002). Effect of mouthguards on dental injuries and concussions in college basketball. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 34(1), 41-44. DOI: 10.1097/00005768-200201000-00007. Read full study.
- Fernandes, L. M., Neto, J. C. L., Lima, T. F. R., et al. (2019). The use of mouthguards and prevalence of dento-alveolar trauma among athletes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Dental Traumatology, 35(1), 54-72. DOI: 10.1111/edt.12441. Read full study.
- American Dental Association. Athletic Mouth Protectors (Mouthguards). ADA Oral Health Topics. View patient resource.
- American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Policy on Prevention of Sports-Related Orofacial Injuries. The Reference Manual of Pediatric Dentistry. View policy.
This blog is intended for general educational purposes only and is not a substitute for personalized medical, dental, or orthodontic advice. Please contact Elevated Orthodontics or your healthcare provider with specific questions about your individual treatment, mouthguard selection, or orthodontic care.
