Sports Mouthguards: Why a Custom One Is Worth It

A knocked-out front tooth at fifteen is a lifetime of dentistry. A mouthguard is the cheapest insurance in the whole of dental care, and the difference between a properly made one and a boil-and-bite from a sports shop is larger than most parents realise.

The short answer

A custom mouthguard is made from an impression or scan of your own teeth, so it fits precisely, stays put without being bitten into position, and does not obstruct breathing or speech. That matters because a guard that is uncomfortable or loose gets taken out, and a guard that is out protects nothing. Ask us for the current price and we will tell you before you commit. Set it against a knocked-out tooth: an implant to replace one starts from £3,000, and that is a cost you may carry more than once over a lifetime.

Which sports need one

• Obviously: rugby, boxing, martial arts, hockey and lacrosse.
• Less obviously, and this is where most injuries we see actually come from: football, basketball, netball, cricket, skateboarding, BMX and mountain biking. Collision with an elbow, a knee or the ground accounts for a great many dental injuries in sports where nobody wears a guard.
• Anyone in fixed braces playing any contact sport. The risk here is not only to teeth but to the lips and cheeks, which brackets can cut badly on impact.

We look after players and families across Bollington, Macclesfield and Prestbury, including through our involvement with local sport, so this is a conversation we have often.

Custom versus shop-bought, honestly

A boil-and-bite guard is better than nothing, and if the choice is between one of those and playing without, wear it. But the limitations are real. They are bulky, which pushes the jaw open and makes breathing harder. They rely on being clenched to stay in place, so they shift the moment you talk or open your mouth. The fit degrades. And because thickness cannot be controlled where it matters, protection over the front teeth is often thinner than it looks.

A custom guard is thicker where impact lands and thinner where it does not, holds itself in place, and can be made in club colours, which sounds trivial and is genuinely the reason teenagers keep wearing them.

One specific warning: a guard made for a child will not fit for long, because teeth are still erupting. Expect to remake them through the growth years, and have the fit checked at each check-up.

If a tooth does get knocked out

Speed matters enormously, and an adult tooth can often be saved if you act correctly in the first hour. The short version: find it, hold it by the crown and not the root, do not scrub it, and either place it back in the socket or keep it in milk while you get to a dentist. Our guide to a knocked-out tooth sets out the steps properly, and it is worth reading before you need it.

A baby tooth should never be put back, because it can damage the adult tooth developing behind it.

Looking after a guard

• Rinse it in cold water after every use, and clean it with a soft brush and cold soapy water rather than toothpaste.
• Never use hot water or leave it on a radiator or in a car. Heat warps it permanently and a warped guard does not protect.
• Store it in its vented case, dry. A guard left in a damp kit bag grows things.
• Bring it to check-ups so we can look at the fit, particularly for children.
• Replace it when it is chewed through, cracked or no longer clicks into place.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use a night guard for sport, or the other way round?

No, and this is a common misunderstanding. A sports guard is soft and thick to absorb impact. A night guard for grinding is hard and thin to resist sustained crushing force. Each performs badly at the other’s job.

How long does a custom mouthguard last?

For an adult with no dental work changing, a couple of seasons or more with reasonable care. For a growing child, often a single season, because the teeth underneath keep moving.

Does it stop concussion?

Be careful with this claim. A mouthguard reliably prevents damage to teeth, lips and jaws. The evidence for reducing concussion is much weaker and it should not be relied on for that. Wear one for your teeth.

My child has braces. Can they still have one?

Yes, and they particularly should. It needs making to accommodate the appliance and remaking as teeth move, so tell us about the orthodontics when you book.

If they are new to the practice, our guide to a child’s first dental visit covers what to expect.

If someone in the house plays contact sport without a guard, that is worth sorting before the season rather than after an accident. Call us on 01625 574609. Our published prices are on the fees page.

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