Sports Mouthguards
Sports mouthguards, also called sportsguards, are an absolutely essential piece of sports safety equipment. Unfortunately, despite the fact that thousands lose or injure teeth every year while participating in sports, sportsguards are often overlooked or underutilised by athletes.
We are strong advocates of preventive dental care, which is why we create custom sportsguards for athletes of all ages. Many patients or their parents think that mouthguards are only for contact sports where athletes may be hitting or running into each other, such as hockey and football. However, there are dozens of sports for which we recommend sportsguards, some of which are considered “solo” or non-contact sports. For example, we recommend sportsguards for volleyball, soccer, gymnastics, mountain biking and rollerblading.
What Is A Sports Mouthguard?
A mouthguard is a piece of moulded plastic in the form of an arch that fits over the top teeth. A sports mouthguard protects the mouth and face in several ways. The guard shields the upper teeth from damage from impacts or blows to the face. Top and bottom teeth are prevented from impacting each other directly as a result of a collision or blow. It also protects the soft tissues of the mouth, especially the cheeks, from impacts with the teeth.
There are three types of sportguards: ready-made, boil-and-bite and custom. We want all our patients to be aware of the differences between types of sportsguards so they can make an informed decision.
Ready-Made Sportguards
This type of sportsguard is sometimes referred to as over-the-counter or stock because they are available at many sports stores or pharmacies. Ready-made guards are usually made from plastic or hard rubber in a U shape with a trough for the teeth to fit in and a lip that goes up above the gum line to protect the gums. While these sportsguards often come in a few basic sizes, that’s as customised a fit as you’re going to get. These are the most affordable but least comfortable type of sportsguards.
Boil-and-Bite Sportsguards
This type of sportsguard is also available at sports stores or pharmacies. Rather than being ready to go out of the package, the guard must be heated (usually in boiling water) until it becomes soft and pliable. While it is still soft but cooled down enough to handle, the athlete bites into the guard so it shapes around their teeth. While this does create a slightly better fit than the ready-made sportsguards, boil-and-bite guards do not count as custom-made. The plastic they are made from tends to be less durable than custom guards because it needs to be soft enough to bite into. This means it won’t last as long and can fall apart if the athlete has a tendency to chew on the mouthguard.
Custom Sportsguards
This type of sportsguard is prescribed and produced by a dentist to fit a patient’s mouth exactly. The process begins by taking a mould of the patient’s teeth. This involves biting down briefly into a tray of paste. From that mould we create a stone model of the teeth over which the sportsguard is formed. The guard is made from durable plastic that is either poured into a mould or vacuum formed. Because they are built from a model of a patient’s mouth, custom sportsguards offer the more secure and comfortable fit. The guard is more likely to stay in place and allows the athlete to speak and breathe normally. The custom production process does mean that this is the most expensive type of sportsguard. We believe it is also the best, because when a mouthguard works well and feels comfortable, athletes are more likely to wear it when they should!
