All About Sports Guards
Sports guards provide more than just protection for your teeth—they also shield braces, dental appliances like bridges and implants, and protect the inside of your cheeks and lips from injury caused by braces during an accident. If you participate in sports or activities that involve falls, body contact, or flying equipment, a sports guard is a smart investment. While any sports guard offers some level of protection, nothing beats a custom-made guard designed by your dental team to fit your mouth and teeth perfectly.
So What Are Your Options?
Stock Sports Guards
These pre-formed, ready-to-wear guards are widely available at sporting goods stores. However, they often don’t fit well, feel bulky in the mouth, and can make breathing or talking difficult. Athletes often find themselves distracted and may remove or adjust the guard during the game.
Boil & Bite Sports Guards
Sold in kits with instructions, these guards require you to boil them in water and then bite into the plastic to shape them to your teeth. While they offer a better fit than stock guards, they still may not be ideal for everyone. If your boil & bite guard feels uncomfortable, bulky, or restricts breathing or talking, a custom-made guard might be a better option.
Custom-Made Mouth Guards
This is our top choice—and for good reason! A custom-made mouthguard crafted by your dental team offers the best protection and maximum comfort. If for any reason it’s not perfectly comfortable, we’re here to make adjustments and ensure it’s exactly right for you.
Contact us today
to schedule an initial consultation & exam.
Your consultation will include an examination of everything from your teeth, gums and soft tissues to the shape and condition of your bite. Generally, we want to see how your whole mouth looks and functions. Before we plan your treatment we want to know everything about the health and aesthetic of your smile, and, most importantly, what you want to achieve so we can help you get there.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, although both mouthguards and nightguards are custom-fitted to your teeth, they serve different purposes. Sports guards protect your mouth from impact, while nightguards are designed to protect your teeth and jaw by adjusting your bite and preventing grinding.
While these terms are often used interchangeably, they do have subtle distinctions based on their specific purpose:
- Sports Guard: Typically used during physical activities and contact sports, a sports guard is designed to protect your teeth, gums, and mouth from impact, falls, or collisions. It can also shield braces and dental appliances from injury.
- Mouth Guard: A general term used for any device worn to protect the teeth and jaw, mouth guards are often used to prevent damage from teeth grinding (bruxism) during sleep or to protect against injuries during sports. They are designed to be custom-fitted or can be bought in stock or boil-and-bite forms.
- Mouth Protector: This term is used similarly to a mouth guard, often in the context of protection against injury during contact sports or activities where there is a risk of trauma to the mouth. It generally refers to any appliance that covers the teeth and gums to protect them from harm.
In essence, all three terms describe protective appliances for your mouth, but “sports guard” and “mouth protector” tend to be more associated with sports and physical activities, while “mouth guard” can also refer to devices used for bruxism or other dental protection.
Sports guards should ideally be replaced after each sports season. Over time, they can wear down, especially if you chew on them or misuse them. Additionally, if you’re growing, such as in the case of adolescents, your teeth may shift, making the guard less effective. Many athletes opt for a new guard during their routine 6-month check-up.
A properly fitting sports guard should feel comfortable, allowing you to breathe and talk easily. If you’re constantly adjusting it or taking it out during your game, it likely doesn’t fit properly.
Any sport where you may fall, collide with other players, or be hit by equipment requires a sports guard. This includes football, hockey, lacrosse, baseball, soccer, wrestling, boxing, skateboarding, gymnastics, and more.
Yes, absolutely! In fact, wearing a sports guard is even more important if you have braces. It protects your teeth, braces, and the inside of your lips and cheeks from injury in case of impact.
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