Playing Sport and Musical Instruments with Braces

One of the first questions we hear from parents — and from teenagers themselves — is whether braces mean giving up sport or dropping out of the school band. The short answer: no. You do need a few sensible precautions, and some instruments require a brief adjustment period, but sitting on the sidelines is not part of the treatment plan.

Perth’s western suburbs have some of the most active families in the state. Young athletes at Claremont Football Club, Cottesloe surf lifesaving, school sport at Christ Church Grammar, MLC, and Scotch College — we see them all at our Stirling Highway practice. Staying active during treatment is something we actively encourage.

Sport with braces — the rules

The main rule is straightforward: keep playing. Whether you are playing netball, swimming laps, or training for athletics, braces will not hold you back.

What does change is how you protect your mouth. Any sport with a risk of impact to the face requires a properly fitted mouthguard. This is important for everyone, but especially when you have brackets and wires that could cut the inside of your lips or cheeks on impact.

If you have just had braces placed or adjusted, your teeth may be tender for a day or two. Take it easy at training on those days, but once the soreness settles, there is no reason to miss a game.

When you need a mouthguard

Not every sport carries the same level of risk. Here is how we generally advise our patients:

Mouthguard essential (contact sports): Australian rules football, rugby, basketball, hockey, martial arts, boxing, lacrosse, and water polo.

Mouthguard recommended (non-contact but risk of impact): Cricket (batting and wicketkeeping), skateboarding, cycling, surfing, gymnastics, and horse riding.

Mouthguard less critical (low risk of facial impact): Swimming, running, tennis, rowing, and dance.

Even in lower-risk sports, accidents happen. If your child tends to be adventurous, a mouthguard is never a bad idea.

Custom vs boil-and-bite mouthguards

The boil-and-bite mouthguards from the chemist are designed to mould around bare teeth — but when you have brackets bonded to every tooth, there is nothing flat for the mouthguard to grip. The result is a poor fit that can press against brackets, bending wires or popping them off.

A custom orthodontic mouthguard is made from an impression or scan of your teeth with braces in place. It fits over the brackets without pressing on them and provides proper cushioning for impact.

Because treatment is actively moving your teeth, your mouthguard will need to be remade periodically — typically every 12 months, or sooner if the fit feels loose. We can organise custom mouthguards through our practice. If your child plays a winter contact sport and is starting braces, mention it at the consultation so we can plan the timing.

What if you get hit in the mouth?

It happens. Even with a mouthguard, a hard enough impact can cause damage. Here is what to do:

Check immediately: Are any brackets loose or detached? Has a wire shifted or is it poking? Are there cuts on the lips, cheeks, or gums? Are any teeth loose, chipped, or knocked out?

First aid: Rinse gently with warm salt water. Apply a cold compress to reduce swelling. If a wire is poking, cover it with orthodontic wax until you can see us. If a bracket has come off but is still on the wire, leave it in place.

When to call us: A bracket has come off or a wire has broken — call (08) 6288 7188 during business hours and we will fit you in promptly. Also call if pain, swelling, or bleeding does not settle within 30 minutes.

When to go to emergency: A tooth has been knocked out or is very loose, you cannot close your jaw, heavy bleeding will not stop, or there are signs of concussion.

For more detail, see our guide on emergency orthodontic care. Most sport-related orthodontic issues are fixable with a short appointment.

Musical instruments with braces

This is the other big concern we hear, particularly from students at schools with strong music programmes. The impact depends on the type of instrument.

Woodwind instruments (flute, clarinet, saxophone, oboe): The mouthpiece rests against the lower lip, and the adjustment is usually minimal. Clarinet and saxophone players sometimes feel the brackets against the inside of their lower lip, but orthodontic wax takes care of the irritation. Most woodwind musicians are comfortable again within a week or two.

Brass instruments (trumpet, French horn, trombone, tuba): Brass instruments require more lip pressure against the mouthpiece, and this is where braces are felt most. Most brass players experience an adjustment period of two to four weeks. Orthodontic wax on the front brackets helps considerably, and some patients find a lip protector — a thin silicone shield designed for musicians with braces — reduces irritation further. Practice sessions may need to be shorter for the first couple of weeks, but the adjustment is temporary.

Singing: Braces do not affect singing in any meaningful way. Some vocalists notice a very subtle difference in resonance for the first few days, but it resolves quickly. Choir, musical theatre, and solo performance can all continue without interruption.

Percussion, piano, guitar, and strings: No impact whatsoever. If your instrument does not go near your mouth, braces make no difference.

If your child is preparing for an AMEB exam or a school performance, let us know at your next appointment. Where possible, we can schedule adjustments to avoid the days immediately before an important concert or exam.

Clear aligners and sport

If you are being treated with clear aligners rather than fixed braces, the approach to sport is slightly different.

For contact sport, remove your aligners before playing and wear a standard custom mouthguard on your bare teeth. Aligners are not designed to absorb impact, and a hit to the mouth could crack or deform them. Once the game is over, rinse your aligners and reinsert them.

For non-contact sport, you can leave your aligners in. They do not pose any risk during activities like swimming, running, or cycling.

For musical instruments, aligners have almost no impact. Because there are no brackets or wires, there is nothing to irritate the lips. Most aligner patients report no difference at all when playing any instrument.

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Braces are a temporary part of life — sport, music, and everything else you enjoy should keep going throughout treatment. If you have questions about mouthguards, instrument adjustments, or anything else related to staying active with braces, call us on (08) 6288 7188 or visit us at 7/355 Stirling Highway, Claremont.

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Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.