Orthodontist: Teen Athletes in Braces Need Mouthguards at Every Practice

Premiere Orthodontics, led by board-certified orthodontist Dr. Jason Battle, has issued guidance for parents of teen athletes in Seminole County who wear braces, emphasizing that mouthguards are essential at every practice session—not just during games. The Winter Springs and Orlando practice explains that scrimmages, drills, and conditioning workouts carry the same collision risk as formal matches, and an unprotected impact can dislodge a bracket just as easily during a Tuesday practice as in a Friday night game. The timing is critical: bracket damage late in the practice week may go unaddressed for days, potentially shifting tooth position or creating sharp wire ends that irritate soft tissue. Consistent mouthguard use at every session reduces that exposure window.

The practice highlights a common problem: standard boil-and-bite guards, widely sold at sporting goods retailers, conform tightly to teeth and can grip brackets and wires when the thermoplastic material cools. Removing the guard can then pull a bracket loose or bend a wire out of alignment. Orthodontic mouthguards are constructed differently—designed to cover both upper and lower teeth without adhering to brackets, allowing clearance around hardware so the guard can be inserted and removed without stressing attachment points. Dr. Battle stresses that the type of guard matters as much as wearing one. For families seeking orthodontic mouthguards in Winter Springs and the Orlando area, the practice advises asking an orthodontist specifically about guards built for braces rather than purchasing a standard model off a retail shelf. Premiere Orthodontics can be reached at (407) 381-3335 to discuss the appropriate guard type for a particular sport or activity level.

If a bracket is knocked loose, the practice advises keeping the bracket and any detached wire segment for the orthodontist to assess, using orthodontic wax over sharp wire ends as a temporary measure, and never attempting to pull a wire free or reattach a bracket independently. An often-overlooked step is communicating directly with coaches and athletic trainers, who may not know the difference between orthodontic and standard guards. Parents can let coaches know their athlete needs an orthodontic guard, and an orthodontist in Winter Springs FL can help choose the right type at the next appointment, preventing a teen from feeling pressured to use a standard team-issued guard. The practice’s message is simple: braces represent a months-long investment in dental alignment, and that investment deserves the same consistent protection parents expect from other safety equipment—worn at every practice, in every sport, without exception. Premiere Orthodontics has offices in Winter Springs (5733 Canton Cv) and Orlando’s Waterford Lakes area (448 S Alafaya Trl, Ste 10), providing braces, clear aligners, and early treatment for children, teens, and adults.