Choosing and Caring for a Sports Mouthguard
Patient Education · Smiths Grove
Patient Education · Smiths Grove
Athletic and recreational activities can place the teeth, lips, cheeks, and jaws at risk of injury. The American Dental Association recommends a properly fitted mouthguard for activities with meaningful risk of dental or facial trauma, including many contact, collision, and high-velocity sports.
A mouthguard is useful only when it is worn. Comfort, retention, breathing, communication, braces, dental development, and the activity itself can all influence which option makes sense.
Understand the Main Types
Stock mouthguards are sold ready-made in limited sizes. Boil-and-bite guards are softened and adapted by the wearer according to the manufacturer’s directions. Custom guards are made from a dental model or scan and are designed for the individual mouth.
The category alone does not guarantee a good result. A mouthguard should stay in place, provide a resilient protective surface, and allow the wearer to breathe and communicate adequately. Anyone with braces or changing teeth should ask a dental professional about fit and replacement timing.
Wear It for More Than Obvious Contact Sports
Dental injuries are not limited to football or boxing. Activities involving falls, flying equipment, close contact, or speed may also create risk. Basketball, baseball, soccer, gymnastics, skating, biking, and martial arts are among the activities for which mouth protection may be discussed.
- Use the mouthguard during practices as well as games or events.
- Follow the sport’s rules without assuming the minimum requirement covers every risk.
- Do not cut or reshape a guard in a way that compromises retention or protection.
Inspect and Store the Guard
Rinse the mouthguard after use, clean it according to its instructions, and allow it to dry before storing it in a ventilated container. Keep it away from high heat, which may distort some materials.
Check for tears, rough edges, distortion, a loose fit, or areas that have been chewed thin. Bring the guard to dental visits so the fit and condition can be reviewed. Growing children, patients in orthodontic treatment, and anyone whose bite has changed may need replacement sooner.
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