A mouth guard works best when it fits well and is kept in good condition. Many athletes make small mistakes with fit, cleaning, or storage that can reduce the protection it offers. This guide explains those mistakes and compares custom sports mouth guards with store-bought options for different athletes. It also covers what to do after a mouth injury, since no guard prevents every injury.
Fit and Use Mistakes That Reduce Protection
A mouth guard only works if it fits well and you wear it the right way, and a few common habits quietly undermine it.
Using a Loose or Poorly Shaped Guard
A loose mouth guard can shift or fall out when you take a hard hit. Stock guards come in a few sizes, so the fit is often imprecise. Check that it covers your upper teeth, stays put without clenching, and lets you breathe and speak clearly.
Wearing It Only on Game Day
Injuries can happen during practice, warm-ups, and scrimmages, not only in games. Dentists recommend a mouth guard for sports and activities with a risk of contact or falls. Keep yours in a ventilated case inside your gear bag so it is ready wherever you play.
Chewing, Trimming, or Skipping Replacement
Chewing on a mouth guard can wear it down and leave small cracks that weaken it. Cutting or trimming the appliance after it has been fitted can also reduce protection. Follow the package directions if you trim a boil-and-bite guard before shaping it. When it looks worn, torn, or loose, replace it or bring it to a dental visit for a fit check.
Cleaning and Storage Mistakes
Rinse your sports mouth guard with cool water after each use, then brush it gently with mild soap. Avoid hot water and let it air dry in an open or ventilated case before you zip it into your bag. Never leave the guard in a hot car, since a parked car can get hot fast, especially in summer, and heat can warp the material.
Why a Custom Fit Can Help
Dentists take impressions or scans of your teeth and order custom sports mouth guards from a dental lab, so the fit matches your mouth. That helps the appliance stay in place without constant clenching during play. It can also make breathing and talking easier than some store-bought guards.
Most sports mouth guards fall into three types:
- Stock guards are ready-made, low in cost, and limited in fit.
- Boil-and-bite guards soften in hot water, then you bite down to shape them.
- Custom guards come from impressions or scans your dentist takes of your teeth.
Special Considerations for Football, Youth Sports, and Orthodontic Care
Some athletes have fit needs that differ from the general advice above, including football players, children, and those with braces.
Football Players
Football brings frequent contact, and high school programs typically require a mouth guard, so check your league’s rules. Custom sports mouth guards can match your bite and may stay more secure during contact. Your dentist can recommend a design and thickness that suit your sport, bite, and level of contact.
Kids and Athletes With Braces
Children’s mouths change quickly, so a guard that fit last season may not fit now. Have your dentist check a child’s guard each season. Replace it when teeth or jaws shift, including when baby teeth fall out and permanent teeth come in.
Athletes with braces should ask their dentist or orthodontist for an appliance designed for braces. Guards for braces usually cover the upper teeth, and some athletes with lower braces may need a lower guard too.
What to Do After a Mouth Injury
If a tooth is chipped or knocked out, call your dentist or an emergency dentist right away. A knocked-out permanent tooth has the best chance of being saved if you get care within about an hour. Pick it up by the crown, not the root. If it is dirty, rinse it briefly with water without scrubbing.
Do not put a baby tooth back in its socket. If it is a permanent tooth, gently place it back in the socket if you can, and if not, keep it in milk. Go to the emergency room if the injury causes loss of consciousness, confusion, vomiting, severe pain, bleeding that will not stop, or a jaw that looks or feels broken.
Final Thoughts
Custom sports mouth guards work best when they fit well, stay clean, and are replaced on time. Your dentist can tell you when it is time for a new one. Rath Family Dental offers custom mouth guard fittings with Dr. Sushmita Rath. Call (713) 551-9400 or request an appointment online to schedule a visit.