Seeing your child enjoy themselves while being athletic likely makes you feel like a proud parent. However, have you ever wondered if your child's interest in athletics makes them a poor candidate for braces? Here's what you need to know about getting braces for kids who enjoy sports and other athletic activities.

Your Discussion 

The first thing you should know is that when you go to meet an orthodontist, they'll want to know about your child's day-to-day life. This is when you should bring up your child's interest in athletics. Dentists know that many children engage in athletics and other vigorous play activities that could potentially damage braces without help. Letting your orthodontist know right away can help your orthodontist to start formulating a plan to straighten your child's teeth. Typically, there are two significant options for athletic kids: invisible braces and orthodontic protection.

Invisible Braces

Invisible braces are extremely popular. They're versatile, effective at straightening crooked and overcrowded teeth, and they can be removed while your child eats and cleans their teeth. For athletic kids, it's important to remember that invisible braces can be taken off while your child plays sports. This makes it a great option for athletic kids, as they can just take off the aligners and leave them in a locker or with you while they play.

Keep in mind, however, that if your child spends many hours per day practicing athletics, keeping the invisible aligner off that entire time could slow down how long it takes to correct your child's smile. Your orthodontist can give you an estimate based on how many hours a day your child needs to take their invisible braces off.

Orthodontic Mouthguard

Another option - and perhaps the best one - is to get an orthodontic mouthguard. Orthodontic mouthguards are exactly what they sound like: mouthguards that are designed to protect your child's braces and their teeth. They fit over the braces that your child will be wearing and help to absorb any sudden impacts. This means that if your child experiences a blow to the face, their braces will be far less likely to be damaged in the process.

As a bonus, orthodontic mouthguards can be worn over invisible braces. So if that's the route you really want to follow, you can get an orthodontic mouthguard too, and that way your child won't have to take the braces off for hours every day while they practice. Getting your child's teeth straightened definitely isn't impossible, no matter how much physical activity they enjoy. Keep an open line of communication with your orthodontist and inform them of your child's habits to ensure that their teeth stay healthy and their future braces, intact.