Custom Sports Mouthguards in Sandgate

What about boil-and-bite mouthguards?

Mouthguards sold in chemists and sporting stores usually fall into two categories.

Stock mouthguards are made in standard sizes without being shaped specifically to the individual teeth.

Boil-and-bite mouthguards are softened in warm water and moulded at home.

These options can be inexpensive and are preferable to playing without protection when no other option is available.

However, their fit can be less secure.

During home moulding, some areas can also become thinner than others, potentially reducing the protection provided.

A dentist-made mouthguard is constructed from an accurate model or digital scan of your teeth and is designed specifically for your mouth.

Sports mouthguards for children

Children’s mouths change as they grow.

Baby teeth are lost, permanent teeth erupt and the jaws continue developing.

For this reason, a child’s custom mouthguard should be checked regularly to make sure it continues to fit properly.

A new mouthguard may be required when:

• Permanent teeth erupt
• The shape of the dental arch changes
• Orthodontic treatment begins or changes
• The appliance becomes loose
• The material becomes damaged or heavily worn

A custom fit is particularly important for children because an uncomfortable or loose mouthguard is less likely to be worn consistently.

Can you wear a mouthguard with braces?

Yes, but the mouthguard needs to allow for the orthodontic appliance and movement of the teeth.

Patients wearing braces or another orthodontic appliance may require a mouthguard designed specifically for their treatment.

Because the teeth are moving, the fit may need to be reviewed more frequently.

If you are having orthodontic treatment, let us know so we can assess what type of mouthguard is suitable.

Sports mouthguards and grinding splints are different

A sports mouthguard and an occlusal splint may both fit over the teeth, but they are designed for very different purposes.

A sports mouthguard is designed to absorb impact and help protect the mouth during sport.

An occlusal splint is generally a harder dental appliance designed to manage the forces associated with teeth grinding or clenching.

A sports mouthguard should not be used as a substitute for a properly assessed grinding splint.

Likewise, a hard occlusal splint should not be used as sports protection.

How to look after your mouthguard

Good care helps keep your mouthguard clean and maintain its shape.

We recommend:

• Rinsing it after use
• Cleaning it with cool or lukewarm water
• Allowing it to dry before storage
• Keeping it in a ventilated protective case
• Avoiding boiling water
• Avoiding leaving it in direct sunlight or a hot car
• Not chewing on the mouthguard
• Checking it regularly for damage

Writing your name on the mouthguard case can also be useful, particularly for children playing team sports.

When should a mouthguard be replaced?

There is no fixed replacement interval that applies to everyone.

A mouthguard may need replacing when:

• It no longer fits securely
• The material is torn, cracked or heavily worn
• It has been chewed or damaged
• The teeth have moved
• New permanent teeth have erupted
• Dental treatment has changed the shape of the teeth
• Orthodontic treatment has changed the bite
• A child has grown significantly

Adults whose teeth are stable may be able to use a well-maintained custom mouthguard for multiple sporting seasons.

Children and teenagers often need replacement more frequently because their teeth and jaws are still developing.

What should you do if a tooth is injured during sport?

Even with a mouthguard, dental injuries can still occasionally occur.

If an adult tooth is knocked out completely:

• Handle the tooth by the crown, not the root.
• If it is dirty, gently rinse it with milk or saline rather than scrubbing it.
• If you can safely do so, place it back into its socket and seek urgent dental care.
• If you cannot reinsert it, keep the tooth moist in milk or the patient’s own saliva and see a dentist urgently.

Do not reinsert a baby tooth that has been knocked out.

Other sporting dental injuries, including broken, loosened or displaced teeth, should also be assessed as soon as possible.

A mouthguard does not prevent every injury

A well-made mouthguard can significantly reduce the risk and severity of many dental injuries, but no appliance can make sport completely risk-free.

A mouthguard should therefore be part of broader sporting safety measures such as:

• Following the rules of the sport
• Using appropriate protective equipment
• Maintaining equipment properly
• Receiving appropriate coaching
• Seeking assessment after a significant impact even if the teeth initially appear intact

Some dental trauma is not immediately obvious.

A tooth can sometimes sustain internal damage without breaking visibly.