Typically, when we think of athletes, we think of people in peak physical condition. Their lifestyles focus on building a healthy body, so they must be extremely healthy. Not always!
In this guide, the experts at the American Association of Orthodontists are tackling the oral health of athletes. Read on to discover common issues, what to watch out for, and all-star tips for keeping your mouth and teeth healthy while playing your favorite sports.
Why Are Athletes at Greater Risk for Oral Health Issues?
Athletes can live in conditions that keep the mouth in a high-risk state far more often than non-athletes. The biggest driver can be frequent sipping of sugary, acidic fuels (sports and energy drinks, gels, and chews).
Sugar feeds cavity-causing bacteria, while low pH softens enamel. When athletes “sip and graze” during practices and games, oral pH stays low for extended periods, accelerating decay and erosion. Even “zero sugar” drinks can be highly acidic and wear enamel down over time. Add mouth breathing and dehydration (less saliva to buffer acids and remineralize enamel), plus occasional exercise-induced reflux, and the chemistry tilts even further against teeth.
Layer on sport realities, and the risk climbs: clenching and contact raise the risk of chips, cracks, and jaw strain; travel and tournament schedules can disrupt brushing and flossing; and uncleaned mouthguards can harbor bacteria. For athletes with orthodontic appliances, brackets create plaque-retentive nooks, and clear aligners worn during workouts can trap sugary, acidic liquid against enamel. The result is a perfect storm (more acid and sugar exposure, less saliva protection, and more mechanical stress) that makes cavities, erosion, and gum issues much more likely.
How Do Athletes Protect Their Oral Health?
Knowing how hard sports can be on our teeth can be alarming, but don’t let that discourage you from playing sports! The good news is that athletes can dial down these risks with a few simple changes.
- Smart fueling choices
- Dehydration management
- Better oral hygiene routines
- Mouthguards
1. Smarter Fueling Choices
Fuel like an athlete, not a snacker. Prioritize water first; reserve sports/energy drinks and gels for actual high-exertion needs, finish them quickly (don’t sip for an hour), and follow with a quick water rinse. When possible, choose lower-acid options and carb sources that don’t stick to teeth.
Chew sugar-free gum after fueling to boost saliva, and wait 30–60 minutes before brushing so you’re not scrubbing softened enamel. If you wear aligners, don’t sip sugary or acidic drinks while they’re in. Remove them, fuel, rinse with water, then reinsert.
2. Dehydration Management
Saliva is your built-in mouthguard against acid and bacteria, and dehydration reduces its effectiveness. Carry a bottle of water and drink on a schedule, not just when thirsty; use electrolyte tabs or mixes with lower acidity during long sessions.
For dry-air or altitude sports, add brief nasal breathing during lower-intensity work when safe to cut mouth-drying. After practice, rehydrate before meals, then rinse with water to reset your mouth’s pH.
3. Practice Better Oral Health Routines
Protect enamel and gums with twice-daily brushing (at least 2 minutes with fluoride toothpaste) and daily flossing or interdental brushes. Build a grab-and-go kit (travel brush, paste, floss, mini mouthwash) for tournaments and bus rides so hygiene doesn’t slip.
After drinking acidic beverages, rinse with water and wait 30–60 minutes before brushing. High-risk athletes benefit from fluoride varnish or prescription toothpaste. Ask your orthodontist for a plan that works with braces or aligners.
4. Use Properly Fitted Mouthguards
A good mouthguard reduces the chances of broken and chipped teeth, lip cuts, and jaw injuries. It can also reduce clenching during high exertion, thereby reducing overall wear on your teeth.
While boil-and-bite is better than nothing, custom-fitted guards offer the best protection and stay in place during play. Clean your mouthguard after every use, air-dry it thoroughly, and store it in a ventilated case to prevent bacterial or fungal buildup. Replace if cracked, chewed, or loose, and wear it in practice and games, not just on game day.
Tips for Athletes Undergoing Orthodontic Treatment
Braces and aligners raise the stakes during sports. Brackets, wires, and attachments may create sharp edges that can cut lips and cheeks on impact, and a blow to the mouth can bend wires, break brackets, or crack aligners, delaying treatment by weeks and increasing costs.
Appliances also trap sugars and acids more easily; frequent sipping of sports and energy drinks around practice can accelerate the development of white-spot lesions and gum inflammation. Clenching your jaw during exertion (sprinting, lifting) adds extra wear to already-stressed enamel and hardware. In short, injuries hurt more, damage is costlier, and everyday fueling habits can cause faster harm when you’re in active orthodontic care.
That’s why it’s even more important to protect your teeth during sports when undergoing orthodontic treatment. Follow these three tips to keep your mouth and your orthodontic appliances safe during practice and games.
Wear a Mouthguard at All Times
If you have braces, wearing a mouthguard is highly recommended. This is because the sharp edges of orthodontic appliances can cause serious injury if you are struck in the face or head. Custom or orthodontic-specific mouthguards fit over brackets and reduce the risk of cuts, fractures, and wire damage. You must wear them for both practice and games.
If you use aligners, remove them and wear a mouthguard for contact play.
Pack an On-the-Go Orthodontic Cleaning Kit
With orthodontic appliances, you need to take extra care to clean your teeth to prevent plaque buildup. Additionally, braces and aligners create all sorts of nooks and crannies where sugar from sports and energy drinks can get stuck and do real damage to your enamel.
Pack a travel kit with all the essentials: orthodontic wax (to cover pokey wires), a compact toothbrush, travel-size fluoride toothpaste, floss picks/interdental brushes, and a vented mouthguard case. Brush at least twice daily with fluoride toothpaste, floss daily, and consider prescription-strength fluoride if recommended. After any acidic exposure (sports drinks, reflux), rinse with water and delay brushing 30–60 minutes.
Take Care of Your Protective Gear
After practice, athletes clean and maintain the gear they use. This can be everything from jerseys to shin guards. Establishing this routine helps the gear last longer, ensuring it’s ready and effective the next time you need it.
The same is true of orthodontic protective equipment. After each practice, you should thoroughly rinse and air-dry your mouthguard. Inspect it to ensure there are no cracks or looseness. Always place it in a ventilated case after you’ve cleaned and dried it.
While you’re at it, take a look at your braces to make sure everything is where it should be. If a bracket breaks or a wire shifts, contact your orthodontist quickly. Never “play through” damaged orthodontic hardware. It can cause serious injury.
Why AAO Orthodontists Are an Important Part of Your Oral Health Team
AAO Orthodontists are uniquely trained to manage the intersection of sports, appliances, and oral health. They can fit sport-appropriate mouthguards over braces, set clear aligner “game-time” protocols, and tailor prevention plans, fueling guidance that won’t erode enamel, fluoride strategies for white-spot prevention, emergency playbooks for broken brackets, and check-ins timed to your season. The goal is simple: keep you performing (and your treatment progressing) without avoidable setbacks.
Ready to put a plan in place? Use the Find an Orthodontist Locator on the AAO website to connect with a nearby orthodontist and book an appointment to build your personalized sports orthodontic treatment plan.
