Why A Properly Fitted Mouthguard Matters More Than You Think

By Author: sean20
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When people prepare for sport, they usually think about the obvious equipment first.

Football boots. Shin guards. Helmets. Gloves. Protective pads.

A mouthguard can feel like a much smaller detail.

It is also one of those things that is easy to forget until someone takes an elbow to the face, collides with another player or lands awkwardly after a fall.

Dental injuries can happen quickly, and they are certainly not limited to professional athletes. Children playing weekend sport, teenagers at training and adults joining a social competition can all be exposed to situations where the teeth and mouth are vulnerable.

That is why a mouthguard is worth thinking about before an injury happens rather than afterwards.

Mouthguards Are Not Just for Boxing

Boxing is probably the first sport people associate with mouthguards, but the risk of dental injury goes well beyond combat sports.

Football codes, hockey, basketball and other activities where players can collide or be struck in the face can all put the teeth at risk.

Even sports that are not usually described as full-contact ...
... sports can involve falls, accidental elbows, balls, equipment or unexpected collisions.

The Australian Dental Association recommends wearing a mouthguard during sport and training when there is a possibility of injury to the teeth, mouth or jaw. You can read more in its guide to sports mouthguards.

The important thing is to think about the actual risk involved rather than whether a sport happens to have the word "contact" attached to it.

What Does a Mouthguard Actually Do?

A sports mouthguard sits over the teeth and provides a protective layer between them and an external impact.

If you are hit around the mouth, the guard can help absorb and distribute some of the force.

Without that protection, an impact may result in chipped, cracked, displaced or knocked-out teeth. The lips and other soft tissues of the mouth can also be injured.

No mouthguard can promise to prevent every possible dental injury.

Sport will always involve a degree of unpredictability.

The purpose is to reduce risk and provide the teeth with an extra layer of protection when an impact occurs.

Think of it in the same way you would think about a helmet.

You do not wear a helmet because you are planning to fall off your bike. You wear it because you know a fall is possible.

Not All Mouthguards Are the Same

Walk into a sporting shop or pharmacy and you will probably find several mouthguards hanging on the shelf.

They can look fairly similar at first glance, but there are important differences in how they fit.

Broadly speaking, sports mouthguards can include ready-made options, boil-and-bite guards and custom-fitted mouthguards.

A ready-made guard is designed to fit a broad range of mouths.

A boil-and-bite product is softened in hot water and then shaped around the teeth at home.

A custom mouthguard is made specifically for an individual's teeth, generally using an impression or digital scan taken by a dental professional.

The difference becomes particularly noticeable once you start moving, talking and breathing while wearing one.

Why Does Fit Matter So Much?

A mouthguard cannot provide much practical protection if the player refuses to keep it in their mouth.

Poorly fitting guards can feel bulky. Some move around when the wearer speaks. Others may require the person to keep biting down just to hold them in place.

That gets annoying very quickly during a long training session or game.

A well-fitting mouthguard should stay securely around the teeth without needing to be constantly clenched.

Comfort matters because comfortable protective equipment is more likely to actually be worn.

This is especially important with children and teenagers.

Buying a mouthguard is only useful if it makes it from the sports bag into the player's mouth.

What Is Different About a Custom Mouthguard?

A custom mouthguard is made for the individual person rather than manufactured in a standard shape.

A dentist first records the shape and position of the teeth, traditionally through an impression or, in some practices, with digital scanning.

The guard can then be made to fit closely over the teeth.

Because the shape is individualised, it should feel more secure than a generic one-size-fits-many product.

Practices offering dentures, splints and mouthguards in Annandale can assess the teeth and discuss the type of mouthguard appropriate for the person and the sport they play.

This can be particularly useful when someone has braces, dental restorations or other circumstances that make fit more complicated.

Children Need Their Mouthguards Checked Regularly

Parents already know how quickly children grow out of shoes and clothes.

Their mouths change too.

Teeth are lost, permanent teeth appear, orthodontic treatment may begin and the shape of the mouth changes as a child grows.

A mouthguard that fitted well previously may eventually become uncomfortable or too tight.

Do not assume that because a guard was custom-made once, it will fit forever.

Check it regularly.

If your child suddenly complains that the mouthguard is uncomfortable, keeps removing it during training or cannot get it into position properly, it may be time to have the fit reviewed.

It is also sensible to bring the mouthguard along to routine dental appointments so the condition and fit can be checked.

What About Braces?

Playing sport with braces can make mouth protection even more important.

An impact to the face does not only threaten the teeth. The brackets and wires can also come into contact with the lips and inside of the cheeks.

A mouthguard for someone undergoing orthodontic treatment needs to allow for the appliance and changes in tooth position.

If you or your child has braces, ask the dentist or orthodontic professional what style of mouthguard is appropriate rather than assuming an ordinary guard will fit correctly.

As the teeth move during treatment, the mouthguard may also need to be reviewed or replaced.

Training Counts Too

There is another common mistake with mouthguards.

Players wear them during official matches but leave them in their bag during training.

Unfortunately, teeth do not know the difference between a Saturday competition and a Wednesday training session.

Collisions still happen.

Balls still travel quickly.

People still fall.

If the activity carries enough risk to justify wearing a mouthguard during competition, it generally makes sense to use protection while practising the same activity.

Making the guard part of the normal sports routine also makes it less likely to be forgotten on game day.

How to Look After a Mouthguard

Like anything that spends time inside your mouth, a mouthguard needs to be kept clean.

After wearing it, rinse it thoroughly.

Depending on the type of guard and the advice you have been given, it can also be gently cleaned with a toothbrush.

Allow it to dry before storing it.

Use a protective container that has ventilation rather than throwing a wet mouthguard straight into the bottom of a sports bag.

And keep it away from high temperatures.

Heat can distort some mouthguard materials, which may affect the fit.

It is also worth inspecting the guard from time to time.

If it is badly worn, split, damaged or no longer fits comfortably, replace it rather than trying to get another season out of it.

Do Not Share Mouthguards

This probably sounds obvious, but sports equipment gets mixed up surprisingly easily.

A mouthguard is a personal item.

It has been in someone else's mouth and, in the case of a custom guard, it has been made to fit someone else's teeth.

Label the container clearly, particularly when several children in the same household play sport.

It saves confusion and makes it much less likely that the wrong mouthguard will end up in the wrong sports bag.

What If a Tooth Gets Injured Anyway?

Even with good protective equipment, dental injuries can still occur.

If a tooth is chipped, cracked, moved or knocked out during sport, stop and assess what has happened.

A knocked-out adult tooth needs particularly quick attention.

Handle the tooth carefully by the white crown rather than the root, and seek urgent professional advice.

Do not assume that a tooth is fine simply because it has not fallen out.

A strong impact can sometimes damage a tooth without creating an obvious visible fracture.

If the tooth feels loose, painful or different after an injury, having it examined is worthwhile.

It is also a good idea to know where you would seek help before the sporting season starts rather than trying to work it out while everyone is stressed after an accident.

A Mouthguard Is Only Useful When You Wear It

Parents can spend money on a good mouthguard and still discover it sitting untouched in a child's bag halfway through the season.

Making it part of the sporting routine helps.

Keep it with the rest of the essential equipment.

Boots, uniform, water bottle, mouthguard.

For younger players, parents may need to check before leaving home.

Older players should eventually take responsibility for remembering their own protective equipment.

Coaches can help too by treating mouthguards as normal sporting equipment rather than something optional that only cautious players wear.

What Should You Look for in a Mouthguard?

Fit should come first.

A mouthguard should stay in position comfortably without requiring constant clenching.

The wearer should also be able to breathe normally and communicate reasonably well while using it.

The guard should provide appropriate coverage for the teeth and be suitable for the sport being played.

It should also be in good condition.

A mouthguard that has been chewed until it is barely recognisable is unlikely to be doing its job as intended.

For children, remember that today's perfect fit may not be next year's perfect fit.

Is a Custom Mouthguard Worth Considering?

That depends on the individual.

Someone participating regularly in a sport with a meaningful risk of impact may place a higher priority on fit, comfort and protection than someone who only occasionally takes part in a low-risk activity.

Children who frequently remove an uncomfortable mouthguard may also benefit from having the fit assessed.

Dental appliances, braces and the shape of the person's teeth can influence the decision too.

Rather than choosing based only on price or appearance, consider how often the mouthguard will be used and whether the person can comfortably keep it in place throughout training and competition.

Protection Is Easier Than Repair

Dental injuries can be unpredictable.

You cannot control every collision, every fall or every ball travelling towards someone's face.

You can control whether suitable protective equipment is being used.

For families and athletes in Sydney's Inner West, Booth Tooth Dental provides custom mouthguards alongside general, preventive and restorative dental services from its Annandale practice.

A mouthguard is a fairly small item compared with most sporting equipment.

But when the choice is between wearing one today and dealing with a badly damaged tooth tomorrow, it deserves a place near the top of the sports checklist.

The best time to think about protecting your teeth is before they get hit.