Sports involve speed, force, and unpredictability; a momentary collision or an awkward fall can cause damage that lasts long after the game ends. Mouthguards are designed to absorb and redistribute impact energy, reducing the chance of chipped or broken teeth, soft-tissue lacerations, and injuries to the jaw. For athletes, wearing a properly designed mouthguard is a simple, proactive step that significantly lowers the risk of acute dental trauma on the field or court.
Protection extends beyond the visible damage to enamel. A strong blow to the jaw can lead to painful jaw joint problems, tooth displacement, or damage to restorative dental work. For younger athletes, whose jaws and permanent teeth are still developing, preventing trauma can also protect long-term oral health and avoid interruptions to orthodontic treatment. Consistent use helps maintain continuity in training and competition by minimizing setbacks from preventable injuries.
Wearing a mouthguard can also support confidence and focus. When athletes know their mouth is protected, they’re less likely to hesitate during play, which can improve performance and reduce the distraction of worrying about injury. Coaches and sports programs increasingly recognize mouthguards as essential protective equipment—alongside helmets and pads—for promoting player safety at every level.
Available mouthguards fall into three categories: ready-made stock guards, boil-and-bite models, and custom-fitted appliances made by dental professionals. Stock guards are the most basic option and are often bulky, which can make breathing and speaking difficult. Boil-and-bite mouthguards allow some molding to the teeth and typically perform better than stock models, but they still may not match the wearer’s bite precisely or hold up evenly over time.
Custom mouthguards begin with a dental impression or digital scan and are fabricated to the athlete’s unique anatomy. That tailored approach produces superior retention, a streamlined profile for breathing and communication, and more consistent shock absorption. For athletes with braces, bridges, crowns, or a history of dental work, custom guards can be designed to accommodate appliances and protect vulnerable areas without compromising comfort.
Choosing the right type of guard depends on the athlete’s age, sport, and frequency of play. For casual activity, a boil-and-bite may offer a reasonable balance of convenience and protection. For competitive athletes or anyone wearing orthodontic appliances, the benefits of a custom-fitted guard — better fit, comfort, and predictable protection — usually make it the preferred choice for ongoing use.
An effective mouthguard balances impact management with comfort so the athlete will actually wear it. Materials and construction matter: many custom guards use multi-layer laminates or medical-grade thermoplastics that combine a firm outer layer for force distribution with a softer inner layer for cushioning. Thickness is strategically varied — thicker where impact absorption is critical, and thinner where breathing and speech must be preserved.
Fit and retention are equally important. A guard that adapts precisely to the teeth and occlusion stays in place during sudden movements and avoids awkward repositioning mid-play. For individuals with braces or other hardware, the interior surface is contoured to shield metal parts while still maintaining secure seating. Thoughtful edge finishing and polished contours reduce irritation and minimize the gag reflex for sensitive wearers.
Durability and hygiene also factor into long-term usefulness. A robust guard resists tearing and deformation through repeated use and cleaning, while designs that are easy to rinse, brush gently, and store in a ventilated case help maintain their protective qualities. When a guard is comfortable to wear, easy to maintain, and engineered to perform under sport-specific demands, athletes are far more likely to adopt it as routine gear.
Mouthguards are essential in contact sports like football, hockey, and rugby, but their usefulness extends into activities where falls, collisions, or projectiles are possible — such as basketball, skateboarding, cycling, and certain track and field events. Young athletes are a particularly important group to protect: their jaws and permanent teeth are still developing, and a single traumatic event can have consequences for growth and future dental treatment.
Players who wear orthodontic appliances or have significant dental restorations should use a mouthguard for both practice and competition. Regular use prevents cumulative risk from routine drills and scrimmages, and it ensures protection is in place when a high-stakes game or an unexpected incident occurs. Coaches, parents, and athletic trainers can encourage consistent habits by making properly fitted mouthguards part of standard equipment checks.
Multi-sport athletes often benefit from a single, well-designed custom mouthguard that suits several activities, provided the guard meets the protective needs of each sport. Periodic reassessment is important — especially for growing children or anyone undergoing dental treatment — to confirm that fit and coverage remain optimal as tooth positions and jaw relationships evolve.
The custom-fitting process begins with a clinical evaluation and an impression or intraoral scan to capture accurate tooth and bite relationships. During that visit, the dental team will discuss sport-specific demands, any dental work or orthodontic appliances, and personal comfort preferences. The resulting appliance is fabricated to address those factors, and a follow-up appointment ensures the fit is secure and any minor adjustments are made for pressure relief or improved retention.
Proper daily care preserves a guard’s effectiveness and longevity. After each use, rinse the mouthguard with cool water and brush it gently with a soft toothbrush and mild, non-abrasive cleanser. Store the appliance in a ventilated case away from heat sources to prevent warping. Regular inspections will catch small tears, thinning areas, or changes in shape — any of which can reduce protection and indicate the need for evaluation.
Replacement is based on condition and changes in the mouth rather than a fixed timetable. Look for obvious signs of wear, discomfort, or loosening, and schedule a dental review if orthodontic adjustments, new restorations, or noticeable shifts in fit occur. With attentive care and appropriate follow-up, a custom mouthguard provides dependable protection that helps athletes maintain uninterrupted participation in sport.
Summary — A carefully chosen, well-fitted mouthguard is a practical, high-impact step toward preventing dental and facial injuries for athletes of all ages. Whether you play contact sports, ride or skate, or simply want added protection during practice, a properly designed guard improves safety without sacrificing breathing or communication. For personalized advice on the best mouthguard for your needs, contact Wonderful Smiles Dental to learn more and schedule an evaluation.
A sports mouthguard is a removable oral appliance designed to protect the teeth, soft tissues and jaw from impact during athletic activity. It is typically made from resilient thermoplastic or layered materials that absorb and disperse force to reduce the risk of fractures, tooth displacement and soft tissue injuries. Mouthguards are most often worn over the upper teeth, though designs can vary to provide additional protection as needed.
By creating a barrier between the teeth and surrounding tissues, a mouthguard also helps prevent cuts to the lips, cheeks and tongue and can reduce the likelihood of jaw injuries or concussions from certain types of blows. Proper fit and retention are important to ensure the device stays in place during play and provides the intended protection. Choosing the correct type of mouthguard for the athlete’s age, dental condition and sport is an important part of injury prevention planning.
Any athlete participating in contact or collision sports should wear a mouthguard, and it is strongly advised for players in sports where falls or strikes from balls, bats or sticks are common. This recommendation applies to youth and adult players alike, since the severity and frequency of dental injuries do not differ substantially by age. Mouthguards are also suggested for recreational activities such as skateboarding, cycling and martial arts where facial trauma is possible.
Individuals with existing dental restorations, implants, crowns or orthodontic appliances may need a specially designed mouthguard to accommodate those conditions and maintain protection. A dental professional can assess oral anatomy, bite relationships and treatment needs to recommend the most appropriate option. Proper evaluation helps ensure the mouthguard protects both the natural teeth and any dental work without causing added pressure or discomfort.
There are three primary types of mouthguards: stock mouthguards, boil-and-bite mouthguards and custom-fitted mouthguards made by a dental professional. Stock mouthguards are pre-formed and ready to wear but often provide a poor fit and limited protection. Boil-and-bite models can be softened and shaped to the teeth for a better fit, though they still lack the precision and retention of custom devices.
Custom mouthguards are fabricated from impressions or digital scans of the patient’s teeth, resulting in superior fit, comfort and protection compared with over-the-counter options. They can be constructed in multiple layers or from advanced materials to enhance shock absorption and durability. For athletes who require reliable protection or who have special dental needs, a custom mouthguard is typically the recommended choice.
Custom mouthguards offer a precise fit because they are made from impressions or digital scans of the athlete’s teeth and bite, which improves retention and stability during rigorous activity. A better fit improves protection by minimizing movement within the mouth, reducing the risk of injury to teeth and soft tissues. Enhanced comfort also increases the likelihood that an athlete will wear the device consistently, which is crucial for effective injury prevention.
Custom devices can be tailored to accommodate orthodontic appliances, dental restorations and unique bite patterns, and they may include layered construction to optimize shock absorption. Because they are fabricated to exact specifications, custom mouthguards tend to interfere less with breathing and speech than ill-fitting alternatives. For athletes in high-impact sports or those with special dental considerations, the advantages of a custom appliance often outweigh the limitations of stock and boil-and-bite options.
A custom sports mouthguard begins with a clinical assessment and an impression or digital scan of the teeth to capture the exact shape and bite relationship. At Wonderful Smiles Dental the dentist or trained staff use that model to design a mouthguard that balances comfort, fit and protective thickness, and the appliance is then fabricated in a dental laboratory using layered materials for optimal shock absorption. The lab process typically involves forming the material over the model and trimming and polishing the final piece to ensure proper fit and margin adaptation.
When the mouthguard is returned to the office the dentist performs a final fitting and makes any necessary adjustments to improve retention, comfort and occlusion. Athletes are instructed on insertion, removal and how the guard should feel when properly seated. The combination of clinical evaluation, precise fabrication and professional adjustment helps ensure the finished device performs reliably during play.
Yes, athletes with braces, fixed bridges, implants or other dental appliances can and should use mouthguards, but they often require devices specifically designed for those situations. Orthodontic mouthguards and specially adapted custom guards allow room for brackets and wires while protecting soft tissues from lacerations and the teeth from direct impact. Using an ill-fitting over-the-counter guard with braces can be uncomfortable and may not provide adequate protection.
A custom mouthguard is frequently the best option for patients with orthodontic work because it can be fabricated to accommodate appliances and allow for anticipated dental movement. Regular follow-up with the dental team is important so the guard can be adjusted or remade as treatment progresses. This proactive approach helps maintain protection throughout orthodontic care or any restorative treatment.
Rinse the mouthguard with cool water immediately after use and brush it gently with a soft toothbrush and nonabrasive toothpaste or mild soap to remove saliva and debris. Allow it to air-dry completely before storing it in a ventilated, rigid case to reduce bacterial growth and avoid deformation. Avoid exposing the guard to hot water or direct sunlight, which can warp the material and compromise fit.
Periodically inspect the mouthguard for signs of wear, holes or thinning and bring it to dental appointments so the clinician can assess its condition. Replace the storage case if it becomes cracked or contaminated and keep the guard away from pets, who are often attracted to its smell and can easily damage it. Proper hygiene helps preserve the effectiveness and longevity of the appliance while reducing the risk of oral infection.
The lifespan of a mouthguard varies depending on the material, frequency of use and the athlete’s age, but signs of wear such as thinning, tears or loss of retention indicate it should be replaced. Children and adolescents typically need replacements more often because of growth and tooth movement, whereas adult athletes may use the same custom guard for a longer period if it remains intact and fits well. Any time a guard becomes uncomfortable, distorted or damaged after an impact, it should be evaluated by a dental professional.
Routine inspections before and after the season and professional checks during dental visits help determine the right replacement interval for each athlete. Adjustments or a new fabrication may be necessary after significant dental work, orthodontic changes or a traumatic event. Staying vigilant about the condition of the mouthguard ensures continued protection when it matters most.
An initial adjustment period is common as an athlete gets used to the feeling of a new mouthguard, and minor changes in speech or breathing may be noticeable at first. Well-designed mouthguards, particularly custom-fitted models, are shaped to minimize interference with normal breathing and communication while maintaining adequate protection. Practicing with the mouthguard during training helps the athlete adapt more quickly and reduces distraction during competition.
If breathing or speech remains significantly impaired, the mouthguard should be evaluated for fit and trimmed or remade as necessary to achieve a balance between protection and function. Coaches and clinicians often recommend wearing the guard during practices so the athlete can become comfortable before game situations. Prioritizing both safety and performance leads to better long-term compliance.
Mouthguards are strongly recommended for contact and collision sports such as football, ice and field hockey, lacrosse, rugby and boxing, and they are commonly advised for activities like basketball, wrestling and martial arts where facial contact or falls are likely. They are also suggested for recreational pursuits such as skateboarding, mountain biking and equestrian activities that carry a risk of facial injury. Many youth leagues, school athletic programs and governing bodies have specific rules or recommendations regarding mouthguard use to promote athlete safety.
Check league requirements and consult with your dental provider if you are unsure whether a mouthguard is advised for a given sport or activity, and seek professional evaluation for the best option for your mouth. Players in Las Vegas and elsewhere can benefit from a tailored assessment to match the guard to the sport, age and dental condition of the athlete. When in doubt, wearing a properly fitting mouthguard is a simple and effective step to reduce the risk of dental and facial injuries.
