Youth sports in braces: a Carrollton parent's checklist.
Between the baseball fields at McInnish, the gyms at Rosemeade, school teams, and club seasons, a lot of Carrollton kids in braces spend their weekends playing something. Two things matter: the right mouthguard, and knowing which problems can wait until Monday.
By Dr. Kevin Baharvand, DMD, MS · Board-certified orthodontist · Reviewed October 2026Wear a mouthguard for practice and games, in almost every sport. The American Association of Orthodontists calls mouthguards essential for athletes and non-negotiable for anyone in orthodontic treatment. Use an orthodontic or custom guard, not a tightly molded boil-and-bite, and keep orthodontic wax in the bag.
What braces change about a hit to the mouth
Without braces, a ball to the face might chip a tooth. With braces, the lips and cheeks also get pushed into the brackets, and that's where most of the cuts come from. The guard sits between the two.
Parents usually think of football. But the AAO also lists basketball, gymnastics, and skating alongside football and hockey, and a lot of injuries happen at practice when nobody bothered with the guard. Basketball is the one that surprises people. Elbows are everywhere.
Carrollton has plenty of chances for all of that. McInnish Sports Complex on Sandy Lake Road covers more than 200 acres with ten baseball fields, multipurpose fields, and a cricket field. Rosemeade Recreation Center added a full-size gym and indoor track in its 2024 expansion.
Which kind?
Tight boil-and-bite
The AAO says a store-bought guard beats no guard, and it does. The trouble is that these are meant to mold snugly around the teeth. Molded around brackets, they fit badly and can push back against the tooth movement the braces are making. As teeth shift, the fit keeps getting worse.
Orthodontic or custom
Orthodontic guards sit over braces without locking onto them. A custom guard from the orthodontist fits best. Ask at your next adjustment which one makes sense for the sport.
In aligners? The trays aren't a mouthguard. Most athletes take them out for the game, wear a regular guard, and put the trays back in right after. Ask what your orthodontist prefers.
Saturday tournament, broken bracket
This is when it always happens. And orthodontic offices, Elate's included, are closed on weekends. So sort the problem into one of two piles.
Can usually wait for the next business day
- A loose bracket still attached to the wire
- A wire poking the cheek (cover it with wax)
- Sore teeth after a hit, as long as they're firm
Don't wait
- A permanent tooth knocked out or pushed out of position
- A tooth that's very loose after contact
- Bleeding that won't stop, or any sign of a jaw injury
A knocked-out adult tooth is time-sensitive. Go to a dentist or emergency care right away, then let the orthodontist know. For everything in the first pile, wax it and call when the office opens: 972-538-4343.
What goes in the sports bag
- The mouthguard, in a vented case
- Orthodontic wax
- An aligner case, if they're in aligners
- Water. A sports drink sipped for three hours around brackets isn't kind to enamel.
Starting braces in the middle of a season? Mention the sport at the free consultation so the guard is handled before the next game. Elate's page for Carrollton families.
Common questions
Do kids with braces need a mouthguard?
Yes. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends mouthguards for most sports, in practices as well as games, and calls them non-negotiable for anyone in orthodontic treatment.
Can my child wear a regular boil-and-bite mouthguard over braces?
A boil-and-bite guard molded tightly around brackets can work against tooth movement. Ask your orthodontist for an orthodontic mouthguard or a custom one.
What should I do if a bracket breaks during a game?
Cover any sharp spot with orthodontic wax and call your orthodontist on the next business day. A tooth that is knocked loose or out is urgent and needs a dentist or emergency care right away.
Talk to an orthodontist near Carrollton.
The first visit at Elate Orthodontics is free, in English or Korean. Scans, an exam with the doctor, and exact pricing.