Active lifestyles and clear aligner treatment

So you’re an active and sporty soul, but you’ve just started your clear aligner treatment and want to:

• Minimise the risk of accidents.

• Avoid hits and harm to your beautiful smile and aligner treatment.

• Still commit to your weekly sports routine.

Not to worry, we’re in complete support of Impress patients with an active lifestyle, and in fact, we’ve been lucky enough to support some sporting tennis stars through their aligner treatment too.

We’ve compiled an article all about sports and aligners, so you’ve got the right guidance to truly be a clear aligner champion. 

So, if you’re ready, we’ll set you up for success so you can play sports and straighten your teeth on the go.

Safety comes first when playing sports with aligners

Remove aligners before any form of contact sport such as rugby, martial arts, or football.. Make sure you carry your travel case to make sure your aligners stay protected while you’re not wearing them.

A custom-fitted sports guard is always the best option–speak to your dentist about the provision of a mouth guard or sports splint if you play sports frequently.

Wearing aligners while playing active sports and taking an impact hit can make an injury worse, so it’s important to wear a sports mouthguard. 

For non-contact sports such as running, cycling, yoga and weight training, it’s perfectly okay to keep your aligner in, and we’ll help you out with some general hygiene tips later on.

Contact sports, heat and hazards

If you played team sports at school or remember being hit with a wet ball during a game of playground football, you might remember the pain that comes from knocks to the face.

To avoid any chance of impact accidents while wearing aligners:

Assess the risk: Aligners aren’t normally damaged, but could break or injure your mouth more if you take a ball or hit to the face during contact sports.

Damage limitation: You may decide to keep your splint in or invest in a custom-made sports guard so you can keep your aligners safe in their storage case while you play.

Heat is a hazard to aligners: A lovely post-match sauna sounds great, but remember to take your aligners out first, as heat can severely warp the shape.

Creating a routine for healthy aligner habits

1. Your aligners should be worn for 20-22 hours a day.
2. It’s important you rinse them in warm water and use only a mild, clear, coloured soap.
3. Put them in again after your training session, game or match is done.
4. Pack some travel-sized dental cleaning products in your sports kit bag, such as a soft-bristle brush. Toothpaste, Mouthwash and Floss

 That way, you can brush your teeth and feel fresh straight after training sessions.

Hydration is crucial for your dental health 

Water is one of the magic ingredients that helps us maintain most aspects of our health and oral hygiene. 

• You should only drink plain water

• Avoid protein shakes and isotonic or energy drinks

• If you do have them, make sure no sugar gets trapped between your aligners and your teeth by brushing after every meal and drink.

Warning! Sugar can turn to stains, decay and discolouration of your teeth and your aligner device.

What to do if you damage your aligners during sports?

If you are in the position that your aligners have become broken or damaged during sports, here's what you can do:

1. Use the last set of aligners in your kit in the meantime. 
2. Contact us by using the Impress App as soon as possible to try and arrange a replacement aligner. 
3. Ensure you book a check-up with your dentist if you experience any bruising, bleeding, swelling or damage to your teeth.

If you want to find out more about how Impress aligner treatment can help you enhance your smile and your lifestyle, come to a local clinic for a free orthodontic evaluation and get your game face ready for match day with a winning smile.