Sports-related impacts can cause more than a chipped tooth. A single blow to the face can fracture teeth, lacerate soft tissues such as lips and cheeks, or injure the jaw and temporomandibular joint. In addition to immediate pain and dental trauma, untreated injuries can lead to infection, nerve damage, and long-term restorative needs that affect chewing, speech, and appearance.
Mouthguards act as a first line of defense by absorbing and redistributing forces that would otherwise be concentrated on teeth and oral tissues. They are particularly important in contact sports but are also valuable in activities where falls or high-speed objects—like balls, pucks, or bats—pose a risk. For young athletes, protecting developing teeth and the jaw can have lifelong benefits.
Beyond protecting teeth, properly designed mouthguards help reduce the risk of jaw injuries and can minimize soft-tissue damage by providing a barrier between the teeth and the inner cheeks or lips. For coaches, parents, and athletes who want to reduce preventable harm on the field, a mouthguard is a simple, evidence-based safety tool.
Mouthguards on the market fall into three broad categories: stock (ready-to-wear), boil-and-bite, and custom-made. Stock mouthguards are pre-formed and inexpensive, but they often fit poorly and can interfere with breathing or speaking. Boil-and-bite models are softened in hot water and then molded to the teeth by the wearer; they provide better fit than stock options but still rely on user technique and may not offer consistent protection.
Custom-made mouthguards are fabricated from dental impressions taken by a clinician and then formed in a lab for an exact fit. These provide superior retention, comfort, and protection because they are tailored to the patient’s bite, tooth alignment, and any orthodontic appliances. For athletes with braces, restorative work, or unusual tooth anatomy, a custom solution is often the safest choice.
Choosing the right style depends on the level of contact in the sport, the athlete’s age and dental status, and the balance between convenience and performance. While off-the-shelf options can be a useful short-term measure, athletes who prioritize comfort and consistent protection typically benefit most from a custom mouthguard prescribed by a dental professional.
Custom mouthguards are created from precise impressions of the dental arches, ensuring a fit that closely follows tooth and gum contours. This precision reduces movement during play, which not only improves protection but also lowers distraction—athletes can breathe and communicate more naturally. The result is a device that feels less intrusive and is more likely to be worn consistently.
Materials used in professional mouthguards are chosen for shock absorption, durability, and ease of maintenance. Manufacturers can layer materials to optimize energy distribution, so impacts are dispersed across a broader surface instead of being focused on a single tooth. This layered approach also helps reduce the chance of a mouthguard tearing or deforming after repeated impacts.
For athletes with orthodontic appliances or recent restorative work, a custom mouthguard can be specially designed to accommodate brackets, wires, crowns, or implants. Your dental team will assess how to balance protection with comfort so that the mouthguard shields vulnerable areas without creating pressure points or interfering with treatment.
Any sport or activity that carries a risk of facial impact should be considered for mouthguard use. This includes traditional contact sports such as football, hockey, and lacrosse, as well as non-contact sports where falls or collisions are common—like skateboarding, bicycling, and gymnastics. Coaches and parents should encourage consistent use during both practices and games, since injuries can happen at any time.
Young athletes, in particular, benefit from early adoption because their teeth and jaws are still developing. For teenagers and adults, mouthguards help protect existing dental work and reduce the likelihood of needing complex restorative procedures later. Players who clench or grind their teeth during play may also find a mouthguard helpful for managing stress on the jaw and teeth.
It’s also important to consider the competitive level and frequency of play. Athletes who train or compete regularly will see the greatest value in a comfortable, well-fitting mouthguard that does not impede breathing or communication. Ultimately, the safest approach is consistent, properly fitted protection rather than ad hoc or occasional use.
A professional fitting begins with a short evaluation of your bite, dental restorations, and any orthodontic needs. The dental team takes impressions or digital scans of the mouth, which are then used to fabricate a mouthguard that matches your anatomy. Expect the process to prioritize comfort and function—adjustments can be made to ensure the device stays secure without causing soreness or speech difficulty.
Once you have a mouthguard, proper care will extend its useful life: rinse it after each use, allow it to air dry, store it in a protective case, and clean it routinely with a soft brush and mild soap or a manufacturer-recommended solution. Inspect the device periodically for signs of wear, thinning, or distortion. If the fit changes—due to growth, orthodontic adjustments, or damage—return to the dental team for a reassessment.
The practice of wearing and caring for a mouthguard is simple but essential. At Po Dentistry, our clinicians can guide athletes through selection, customization, and maintenance so patients and families feel confident that they’re using the best available protection for their sport and stage of dental development.
Summary and next steps: Mouthguards are a straightforward, effective way to reduce the chance of dental and facial injury during athletic activity. Choosing the right type—especially a custom-fitted guard—improves comfort, protection, and compliance. If you’d like to learn more about mouthguard options, fitting procedures, or to schedule an evaluation, please contact us for more information.
A sports mouthguard is a removable dental appliance made from durable thermoplastic material that fits over the teeth to help absorb and distribute impact forces. It shields teeth, lips, cheeks, tongue and supportive jaw structures during activities with a risk of collision or projectile contact. Athletes of all ages who participate in contact sports or recreational activities with fall or impact risk should consider wearing a mouthguard to reduce the chance of dental injury.
Wearing a mouthguard is recommended for team sports such as football, hockey and lacrosse as well as individual activities like skateboarding, mountain biking and gymnastics. Children, teens and adults with active lifestyles benefit from protection tailored to their dental anatomy. Coaches, parents and athletes should view mouthguards as a simple, effective component of overall sports safety equipment.
Stock mouthguards are pre-formed and ready to wear but often require significant adjustment and can be bulky, while boil-and-bite types soften in hot water for a semi-custom fit. Custom mouthguards are made from an exact dental impression and are fabricated by a dental laboratory to match the patient’s occlusion and arch shape precisely. Because they are tailored, custom devices typically offer improved fit, retention and comfort compared with over-the-counter alternatives.
Custom mouthguards can also be designed to accommodate specific dental needs such as braces or restorative work, improving protection and minimizing interference with breathing and speech. Boil-and-bite options provide an intermediate level of fit at lower convenience but variable performance. Selecting the appropriate type depends on the athlete’s level of play, dental anatomy and personal preferences for comfort and durability.
A child should start wearing a mouthguard as soon as they begin participating in organized sports or recreational activities that pose a risk of facial impact. Primary (baby) teeth and erupting permanent teeth are both vulnerable to injury, and early protection helps prevent trauma that can affect oral development. Introducing mouthguard use early also helps normalize protective habits and improves compliance over time.
For youth involved in contact or collision sports, discuss mouthguard options with your dental provider before the season begins to ensure proper fit and comfort. Children with orthodontic appliances may need a specialized design to protect both teeth and hardware. Regular re-evaluation is important as growth and dental changes may necessitate adjustments or a new appliance.
The process for a custom mouthguard begins with an intraoral exam and an impression or digital scan of the dental arches to capture accurate tooth and bite relationships. The dental team then sends the impression or scan to a specialized laboratory where technicians fabricate the appliance using layered thermoplastic materials for strength and cushioning. A final try-in appointment allows the clinician to verify fit, trim edges and make any necessary adjustments for comfort and retention.
Custom fabrication enables the mouthguard to match occlusion and arch form precisely, which improves protection and reduces the likelihood of displacement during play. Additional design choices, such as thickness, coverage for braces or incorporation of breathing channels, can be specified to meet the athlete’s needs. Po Dentistry’s team can guide patients through material and design options to create an appliance suited to their sport and dental condition.
Mouthguards are primarily designed to protect teeth, soft tissues and jaw structures from direct impact rather than to prevent concussions caused by rotational or linear brain movement. Some laboratory and clinical studies suggest that well-fitting mouthguards may help reduce the severity of jaw-driven forces transmitted to the skull, but evidence about their effectiveness in preventing concussions is inconclusive. Therefore, mouthguards should be used as one element of a broader concussion prevention strategy, not as a standalone solution.
Athletes and caregivers should combine mouthguard use with sport-specific protective gear such as helmets, rule adherence and proper training in safe techniques. Sideline concussion protocols and prompt evaluation after a head impact remain critical to athlete safety. Speak with your dentist and athletic trainers about comprehensive measures to reduce head injury risk while participating in contact sports.
Daily cleaning of a mouthguard is important to control bacterial growth and maintain material integrity; rinse it after use and brush it gently with a soft toothbrush and nonabrasive toothpaste or mild soap. Allow the appliance to air-dry completely before storing it in a ventilated case to prevent moisture buildup and odor. Avoid exposing the mouthguard to high heat, hot water or direct sunlight, which can warp the material and alter the fit.
Inspect the mouthguard regularly for signs of wear, thinning or cracking and follow your dental provider’s guidance on replacement intervals. If you experience an uncomfortable fit, persistent odor, or a change in how your teeth come together, bring the mouthguard to your dental appointment for evaluation. Proper care extends the useful life of the device and helps preserve oral hygiene during athletic activity.
Athletes who wear braces, retainers or have crowns and bridges require a mouthguard that accommodates their appliances and protects both the teeth and orthodontic hardware from damage. Custom mouthguards or specially designed boil-and-bite devices can provide additional coverage and padding to prevent soft-tissue lacerations and reduce the risk of broken brackets or displaced restorations. The dental team will recommend a design that balances protection with comfort to minimize interference with orthodontic treatment.
Your dentist can advise on timing for fabrication and necessary modifications as orthodontic treatment progresses, since tooth movement may change the fit. In some cases, a mouthguard with increased thickness or a specific channel to clear brackets is recommended. Regular check-ins ensure the appliance continues to provide effective protection throughout treatment.
The lifespan of a mouthguard varies by material quality, frequency of use, the level of contact in the sport and how well the device is cared for, but it typically ranges from several months to a few years. Younger athletes who are still growing will need more frequent replacement to maintain a proper fit, and high-performance players who use their mouthguards daily may experience faster wear. Routine inspection for tears, thinning or distortion helps identify when replacement is necessary.
Replace a mouthguard promptly if it no longer fits securely, shows visible damage, or causes changes in speech or breathing. Schedule a dental check if you are unsure whether the appliance remains serviceable, especially after a significant impact. Your dentist can recommend the right replacement interval based on your sport, appliance type and oral condition.
A properly fitted mouthguard is designed to allow normal nasal breathing and reasonable speech while offering protection, though an initial adjustment period is common. Custom mouthguards generally interfere less with breathing and speech compared with bulky stock options because they are contoured to the teeth and minimize unnecessary material. Athletes often adapt quickly through brief practice sessions wearing the appliance during training before competition.
If you notice persistent difficulty breathing, excessive gagging or substantial speech impairment while wearing a mouthguard, consult your dental provider to assess fit and make appropriate modifications. Small changes to thickness, trimming of nonessential material and attention to airway clearance can often resolve comfort or functional concerns. Ensuring a good fit helps maintain safety without compromising athletic performance.
To obtain a custom mouthguard, start by scheduling an appointment with the dental team to discuss your sport, any dental concerns and treatment goals so the clinician can recommend the appropriate design. During the visit the provider will take a digital scan or impression of your teeth and bite, review material and coverage options, and outline the fabrication and delivery timeline. A follow-up appointment is scheduled to try in the finished appliance and make any fine adjustments for fit and comfort.
Choosing a custom mouthguard through a dental practice ensures professional oversight of fit, material selection and ongoing care recommendations. Patients in Lancaster and the surrounding communities can contact the office to arrange a consultation and learn which mouthguard option best matches their activity level and dental needs. Properly fitted protection supports both safety and confidence while participating in sports.
Our goal is to help every patient experience the benefits of good oral health and a beautiful smile. We value the trust you have placed in our office and strive to provide solutions that meet your dental needs and expectations of care.
