If you are an avid sportsman who is considering multiple orthodontic options to straighten your teeth, clear plastic aligners, such as Invisalign, may work for you. Here are a few reasons why.

They are removable

Unlike most dental applications that help to properly align the teeth, clear plastic aligners are removable. The devices are similar to rigid mouth trays.

Made from hard plastic, the aligners are customized to fit the contours of your teeth, but because they are designed as insertable trays, they can be removed when you desire. As a result, the trays can be taken out and replaced with a protective mouth guard designed for sporting activities before you participate in a game.

Still, it is important to place the aligners back in your mouth immediately following the event. Although they are removable, they must be left in place for the majority of your day in order to effectively straighten your teeth. Your orthodontist will likely warn that the aligners should not be left out of your mouth for more than a couple of hours each day in order to avoid a delay in alignment progression.

They are unlikely to snag the inner lip

If you do choose to leave your aligning trays in position as you play a sport, you are unlikely to incur the types of injuries that take place when a ball strikes the mouth of a person who is wearing braces. The metal brackets of braces usually lie on the front surface of your teeth, beneath your inner lip. Thus, a blow to the mouth can result in the lips becoming snagged or caught on the metal brackets.

The clear aligning trays have a smooth surface, and since they follow the contours of your teeth, there are no unusual bumps or variations in the appliance that would be abrasive to your lips. Although trauma suffered by your mouth could still result in damage to your lips, the cuts and abrasions from metal brackets would still be avoided.

They are strong

A fall or sudden jarring motion during a game could cause certain types of orthodontic appliances, such as clear braces, to crack or break. Clear braces include brackets that are made of ceramic. As a result, they may be more easily cracked or broken. Since clear plastic aligners are made of plastic, they are less likely to break from trauma.

To learn more about clear plastic aligners and how they can benefit you, schedule an appointment with an orthodontist in your area.