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A mouthguard that fits around braces now may feel different later
How should a sports mouthguard fit when someone has traditional metal braces and their teeth are still moving? A boil-and-bite guard can be molded for a closer fit, but I’m unsure how that molding should account for brackets and planned tooth movement compared with an orthodontic guard designed to leave room for braces.
What should the orthodontist check before either type is used? In particular, should the guard stay secure without pressing hard on the brackets, and what’s the right next step if it starts feeling tight or uncomfortable as treatment progresses?
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The key is not to mold it into a tight, tooth-by-tooth fit that could resist the planned movement. Have the orthodontist check that it can come off without tugging on brackets and has room for the expected changes; if it would lock the teeth into a restrictive shape, a braces-specific guard is the better option.