Athletic activity brings many benefits — improved fitness, teamwork, and confidence — but it also carries a risk of dental and facial injury. Impacts from players, equipment, or the ground can cause chipped or knocked-out teeth, cuts to the lips and cheeks, and injuries to the jaw and temporomandibular joint. For athletes of all ages, a properly fitted mouthguard is a simple, proven tool that dramatically lowers the chance and severity of these outcomes.
Beyond protecting individual teeth, a mouthguard helps distribute and absorb shock across the jaw, reducing the force transmitted to soft tissues and the head. This cushioning effect can lessen the severity of oral lacerations and blunt trauma, and in some cases contributes to reducing the risk of certain types of concussion-related forces. Because of this broad protective benefit, many athletic programs strongly recommend — and in some cases require — the use of mouthguards for contact and collision sports.
For parents and adult athletes alike, the choice to wear a mouthguard is a practical decision that preserves long-term oral health. Preventing even a single traumatic dental injury can avoid complex restorative procedures and minimize interruption to school, work, or sport. Encouraging consistent use and correctly fitting guards are key steps toward safer participation in athletics.
Sports mouthguards are available in three primary styles: pre-formed stock guards, boil-and-bite models, and custom devices made in a dental office. Stock guards are mass-produced and sold ready-to-wear; they are convenient but often bulky and difficult to fit well. Boil-and-bite guards soften in hot water and can be shaped around the teeth by the athlete, offering a better fit than stock options while remaining affordable and accessible.
Custom mouthguards are fabricated from a precise dental impression or digital scan and are tailored to the athlete’s bite, tooth position, and any orthodontic appliances. Because they conform closely to the dental anatomy, custom guards provide superior comfort, retention, and protection. They also allow for thinner, lower-profile designs that do not compromise breathing or speaking — a notable advantage for athletes who need clear communication and unrestricted air flow during play.
The right choice depends on several factors, including the athlete’s age, the sport’s contact level, and whether there are braces, implants, or other dental restorations. While generic options offer basic protection, athletes who want the best balance of safety, comfort, and performance typically opt for a custom-fabricated guard that the dental team designs specifically for their mouth and activity.
A custom mouthguard starts with an assessment from your dental provider to evaluate tooth alignment, oral appliances, and the athlete’s movement patterns during play. If a custom device is appropriate, the process generally involves taking an impression or a digital scan of the teeth. These precise records allow a dental laboratory to craft a guard that mirrors the contours of the mouth, ensuring a stable fit that stays in place without constant conscious effort by the athlete.
The materials used for custom guards are flexible yet resilient thermoplastics or laminated polymers designed to absorb impact while retaining shape over time. Because the guard is tailored to the bite, fabrication can also accommodate braces or special dental work with additional space or reinforcement where needed. Most athletes report that a well-made custom guard feels unobtrusive: it fits snugly, permits clear speech, and supports natural breathing patterns.
Adjustments are a normal part of the process. On delivery, your dental team will verify fit, make any necessary refinements, and review care and storage recommendations. If the athlete’s dentition changes — for example, during adolescence or after orthodontic treatment — the guard can be reassessed and remade to maintain optimal protection and comfort.
Not all sports present the same type of risk, and mouthguard selection should reflect the demands of the activity. High-contact sports such as football, hockey, lacrosse, and martial arts consistently show elevated rates of oral injury, so a secure, high-quality guard is a must. Even in sports that are less contact-heavy, like basketball or skateboarding, a sudden fall or incidental collision can lead to serious dental trauma.
Beyond the sport itself, the athlete’s position and style of play influence the ideal features of a mouthguard. Players who engage in frequent head-to-head contact or aggressive tackling may benefit from thicker shock-absorbing layers and extended coverage, while athletes who require frequent verbal communication might prioritize a lower-profile custom design that preserves clear speech. Youth athletes, whose jaws and teeth are still changing, often need guards designed for growth and easy remaking as they develop.
Coaches, parents, and athletes should also consider rules and standards for their leagues. Many organizations specify acceptable mouthguard types or materials; a dental consultation can clarify which options meet those guidelines while maximizing comfort and protection for the athlete’s specific needs.
Proper care extends a mouthguard’s life and preserves hygiene. Rinse the guard in cool water after each use, brush it gently with a soft toothbrush and mild, non-abrasive soap, and store it in a ventilated case away from heat or direct sunlight. Avoid hot water, which can distort the shape, and never leave a guard on the dashboard of a car or exposed to high temperatures.
Inspect the mouthguard regularly for signs of wear such as thinning, cracks, or persistent odor that doesn’t respond to cleaning. A compromised guard may not absorb impact effectively and can even create sharp edges that irritate the soft tissues of the mouth. For athletes with braces, check that the guard continues to fit securely and does not interfere with the appliances; regular dental follow-ups will help identify when a new guard is needed.
If you notice changes in fit, visible damage, or increased discomfort during use, schedule a review with your dental professional. They can determine whether an adjustment will restore proper function or if fabrication of a replacement is the safer choice. Routine reevaluation is particularly important for growing athletes, those undergoing orthodontic treatment, or anyone whose oral health status has changed.
At Mercer Island Dental Associates, we help patients and families choose mouthguards that balance protection, comfort, and performance. If you’d like to learn more about how a custom mouthguard can safeguard your smile during sports, please contact us for additional information and to arrange a consultation.
Athletic activity offers many physical and social benefits, but it also carries a risk of dental and facial injury. A direct impact from another player, equipment, or a fall can chip teeth, knock out teeth, cause lip and cheek lacerations, or injure the jaw and temporomandibular joint. A properly fitted mouthguard is a simple, proven tool that lowers the likelihood and severity of these outcomes.
Mouthguards work by distributing and absorbing impact forces across the teeth and jaw, reducing the transmission of energy to soft tissues and the head. This cushioning effect helps prevent deep cuts and blunt trauma and can limit damage that would otherwise require complex restorative work. Encouraging consistent use and ensuring a correct fit are key to maximizing these protective benefits.
Sports mouthguards come in three main styles: stock, boil-and-bite, and custom-fabricated devices. Stock guards are preformed and ready to wear but often fit poorly and can be bulky, while boil-and-bite models can be softened and shaped for a better fit at home. Custom guards are made from dental impressions or digital scans and conform precisely to the wearer’s teeth and bite.
Because custom guards fit closely, they offer superior comfort, retention, and protection and can be made thinner to preserve breathing and speech. Boil-and-bite guards provide an affordable middle ground, but their fit and durability vary by brand and user technique. Choosing the best type depends on the athlete’s age, the sport’s contact level, and whether there are braces or other dental restorations.
A custom mouthguard begins with an oral evaluation to review tooth alignment, appliances like braces, and the athlete’s specific needs. The dental team then captures a precise impression or a digital intraoral scan to record the shape of the arches and bite relationship. These records are used by a dental laboratory to fabricate a guard from resilient thermoplastics or laminated polymers tailored to the mouth.
At Mercer Island Dental Associates, we verify the fit and make fine adjustments at delivery so the guard sits securely without impeding speech or breathing. Well-made custom guards often require less conscious effort to keep in place and can be designed with extra reinforcement or space where braces or restorations are present. A follow-up visit ensures continued fit and allows remaking as teeth change during growth or orthodontic treatment.
Research on mouthguards and concussion prevention is evolving, and no mouthguard can guarantee the prevention of all brain injuries. A properly fitted guard may reduce some jaw-transmitted forces and blunt trauma that can contribute to head acceleration, which is one factor in concussion risk. However, concussion protection depends on many variables including helmet design, the nature of the impact, and the overall safety strategy used in a sport.
Because mouthguards provide reliable protection for teeth and soft tissues, they remain a recommended component of an athlete’s protective equipment. Coaches and athletes should view mouthguards as one element in a comprehensive approach that includes proper coaching, protective gear, and rule enforcement to lower the risk of head and facial injuries. Discussing specific concerns about concussion risk with your dental or medical provider can help clarify how a mouthguard fits into an individual safety plan.
Rinse a mouthguard in cool water after each use and clean it regularly with a soft toothbrush and mild, non-abrasive soap to remove bacteria and debris. Avoid hot water, which can distort the material, and never leave a guard in direct sunlight or inside a hot car. Store the guard in a ventilated container to allow it to dry between uses and to reduce odor buildup.
Periodically disinfect the guard according to your dental team’s recommendations, and inspect it frequently for thinning, cracks, or areas that have become rough or misshapen. If the guard develops a persistent odor that does not respond to cleaning or shows visible damage, it may no longer protect effectively and should be evaluated by a dental professional. Proper care and storage both extend the life of the guard and help maintain oral hygiene during athletic seasons.
Replace or adjust a mouthguard whenever its fit changes, it shows visible wear such as cracks or thinning, or after a significant dental injury. Growing athletes often require more frequent replacement because of changes in tooth position and jaw development, and anyone finishing orthodontic treatment should be refitted. A guard that slips, causes soreness, or produces new irritation is a sign that an assessment is needed.
Your dental team can determine whether a simple adjustment will restore function or if fabrication of a new custom device is the safer option. Routine evaluations at dental visits are a good opportunity to check the guard’s condition and confirm it continues to meet the athlete’s needs. Maintaining a guard that fits well is essential to preserving its protective performance over time.
Athletes with braces, fixed retainers, or implant restorations need mouthguards designed to accommodate those appliances. Custom guards can be fabricated with additional space or strategic reinforcement to protect teeth and orthodontic hardware while minimizing pressure on brackets and wires. Boil-and-bite guards may help in some cases, but they can be unpredictable around appliances and may not offer consistent protection.
A dental examination before participation will identify special considerations and guide the choice of material and design for the guard. Regular monitoring during orthodontic treatment ensures the guard is adjusted or remade as tooth positions change to prevent damage to appliances and to maintain comfort. Prioritizing a properly fitting guard reduces the risk of appliance-related injuries and improves overall safety.
Selecting the right mouthguard involves matching protective features to the sport’s contact level and the athlete’s specific role or position. High-contact sports generally benefit from thicker, multi-layer guards with expanded coverage, while positions that require frequent communication may favor thinner, low-profile designs. Consideration of breathing demands, the need to speak clearly, and any league requirements should factor into the selection process.
Custom-fabricated guards provide the most tailored balance of protection and performance and are particularly useful for athletes who wear other protective equipment or have unique dental needs. If a custom device is not feasible, choose a boil-and-bite model from a reputable brand and be meticulous about achieving the best possible fit. Consulting with your dental team helps ensure the chosen guard meets sport rules while supporting comfort and safety.
A well-designed mouthguard should allow natural breathing and clear speech while staying securely in place during play. Custom guards that are precisely adapted to an athlete’s bite are usually thinner and lower-profile, which helps preserve airflow and verbal communication. Initial adjustments and short practice sessions wearing the guard help athletes acclimate and maintain performance.
If breathing or speech feels significantly impaired, the fit should be reassessed because a compromised guard can reduce oxygen intake or interfere with communication on the field. Your dental team can modify the guard to improve airflow and reduce bulk without sacrificing protection. Training with the device before competitive play helps build comfort and confidence.
Getting fitted for a custom mouthguard typically begins with a consultation to review dental history, current appliances, and the athlete’s sport-specific needs. The dental provider will take an impression or a digital scan to record the exact shape of the teeth and bite and will discuss material options and design features. Fabrication is handled by a dental laboratory and the finished guard is then checked and adjusted at delivery for optimal fit.
Follow-up appointments allow for fine tuning and future remakes if teeth shift or orthodontic treatment progresses, ensuring continuous protection. If you are interested in a custom solution, schedule an evaluation at the office of Mercer Island Dental Associates to discuss how a tailored mouthguard can protect dental health during sports. The practice will explain care recommendations and establish a plan for ongoing assessment as needed.
