Why Braces Make Basketball the Riskiest Sport for Dental Injuries
The Surprising Danger on the Court
Football may get the spotlight for contact, but when it comes to dental injuries, basketball quietly sits near the top of the list—especially for athletes with braces. With constant motion, flying elbows, and no helmets or face shields, basketball creates the perfect storm for braces injury sports: cut lips, broken teeth, and damaged metal brackets.
And here’s the real kicker: many teens still play unprotected.
“Athletes who have braces that don’t wear an athletic mouth guard—the consequences could be pretty severe. They could end up with a tooth getting knocked out, the braces getting dislodged, or injuries like a cut lip or bitten tongue.” — Dr. Monroe Elkin
Read about our exclusive interview with Dr. Monroe Elkin on the importance of wearing a mouth guards with braces HERE.
Shop Goon Guard Basketball Mouth Guards Here
Basketball Dental Injuries Are More Common Than You Think
According to the American Dental Association, basketball dental injuries rank high on the charts for youth sports. Why? Players often skip mouth protection in hoops because it’s not required—and many don’t realize that the danger is just as real as it is on the football field. That is why choosing the right mouthguard is so important, Goon Guard is the only ADA accepted mouthguard on the market.
Braces and the High Risk of Injury
When you mix high-contact play with metal brackets, the danger escalates. A ball to the face, a stray elbow, or an awkward fall can turn a fast break into a fast trip to the dentist.
Without a basketball mouthguard for braces, athletes are vulnerable to:
- Cut lips from sharp brackets on impact
- Broken teeth or dislodged orthodontic wires
- Soft tissue injuries requiring stitches
- Orthodontic setbacks costing hundreds—or thousands—in repairs
“If you're wearing an athletic mouth guard, you don't have those sharp edges to cause that problem, and you also have something that can absorb some of the impact and disperse it... which basically lessens the impact.” — Dr. Elkin
Why Most Mouth Guards Don’t Work for Braces
The issue? Most hoops mouth guards weren’t designed for braces. A standard boil-and-bite mouth guard can suction to brackets, cause discomfort, or even rip them off during play.
Goon Guard Fixes the Fit
Goon Guard uses SmartForm™ material that softens in the microwave—not boiling water—then molds around braces without sticking. It’s the only ADA-accepted mouth guard designed specifically for athletes with braces, and it can be remolded after every adjustment.
It’s:
- Low profile and thin enough to talk, breathe, and call plays
- Shock-absorbing and flexible for full sports safety
- Made for both youth athletes and adults
- Available in 15+ colors
“All you do is lightly close. You don't do anything else... you just sit there for 2 minutes and you're done.” — Dr. Elkin
Teen Sports Mouth Protection Should Be Non-Negotiable
Teen athletes are often the most at risk—especially in high-speed sports like basketball where protection is optional. A one-time accident can lead to:
- Emergency dental work
- Delays in orthodontic treatment
- Emotional trauma
- Long-term damage to teeth and soft tissue
“Once their orthodontic treatment was done... they had a mouth guard that they could use after they were finished with all their orthodontics.” — Dr. Elkin
Final Whistle: Choose Smart Protection
Basketball is fast, intense, and unpredictable. Add braces to the mix, and it becomes the riskiest sport for dental injuries. But it doesn’t have to be.
Goon Guard is the best basketball mouth guard for braces on the market—period. Trusted by dentists, engineered for comfort, and built for the court.