A mouthguard only protects teeth that are wearing it, which is why fit matters more than thickness. Custom guards get worn because they stay in place and let you talk; boil-and-bite guards frequently end up in the bag. A custom-fitted mouthguard absorbs and spreads the force of a blow, protecting teeth, lips and jaw in contact sports and in activities such as biking or skiing, and it fits better and is easier to keep in than a store-bought version, which matters most for growing mouths that need replacing every season.
Why people book athletic mouthguards
- Contact and collision sports at any age
- Hockey, lacrosse, football, basketball, skateboarding and skiing
- Protecting front teeth that have been repaired before
- Protecting orthodontic appliances
- Replacing a guard a child has outgrown
What the visit usually covers
- Custom-made guard from an impression or scan
- Different thicknesses depending on the sport
- Guards designed to fit over braces
- Replacement schedule for growing children
- Boil-and-bite as a short-term stopgap only
What the injury numbers say about mouthguards
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry reports that between 13 and 39 percent of dental injuries in children happen during sports. Football offers the clearest before-and-after: mouthguards became mandatory in 1962, when about half of all football injuries involved the mouth and face, and afterwards the share fell to about 3 percent.
Stock guards, sold in a few sizes, are the cheapest and the least protective because they do not stay in place unaided. Boil-and-bite guards, softened in hot water and bitten into shape, are the most widely used. Custom guards, made over a model of the teeth, fit closest, are easier to speak in, and are what the American Dental Association and most dentists suggest for contact sports, along with boil-and-bite as a workable second choice.
Common questions
Athletic Mouthguards: questions people ask
Is a custom guard really better than a boil-and-bite?
The main advantage is that it fits, stays in place and lets you talk and breathe, which means it actually gets worn. A guard in the kit bag protects nothing.
How often does a child need a new one?
Growing mouths outgrow guards, so children typically need replacements more often than adults. Have the fit checked at routine appointments.
Can you wear one with braces?
Yes, and guards can be made specifically to fit over fixed appliances. It is more important with braces, not less.
Which sports need one?
Any sport with contact or a risk of falls: hockey, football, lacrosse, basketball, skateboarding and skiing among them. Dental injuries are expensive and often lifelong.
Which sports and situations call for a mouthguard?
Contact and collision sports at any age. Hockey, lacrosse, football, basketball, skateboarding and skiing all count. A guard also protects front teeth that have been repaired before, and orthodontic appliances. A child who has outgrown a guard needs a replacement.
What types of mouthguard are there?
A custom-made guard comes from an impression or scan, with different thicknesses for different sports. Guards can be designed to fit over braces. A boil-and-bite guard is a short-term stopgap only. Fit matters more than thickness, because a guard only protects teeth while it is in.