Is it better to get a mouthguard from a dentist?

Winter sports season is upon us and there’s always a frantic rush to get mouthguards sorted before the season starts. Mouthguards are essential for many sports, including rugby, AFL, hockey, boxing and martial arts. In fact, using mouthguards is mandatory for many of these sports, as clubs have a ‘no mouthguard, no play’ rule for participants. Other sports for which mouthguards are not mandatory but can be risky for injuries to the mouth and teeth, including soccer, cricket, touch football, basketball and skateboarding.

Mouthguards act as ‘shock absorbers’ to protect the teeth from accidental damage during sports. They help to prevent injuries such as broken jaws, knocked out teeth, chipped or damaged teeth and injuries to the lips and tongue. Whilst a good quality mouthguard isn’t cheap, this simple item can help to prevent damage that could cost thousands of dollars to treat. Sometimes despite treatment, there could be a lifetime burden from the initial injury, as it’s not always possible to reverse the damage in its entirety. Prevention is always better than cure!

Types of mouthguards available:

1. Store/chemist bought mouthguards, often called ‘boil and bite’
2. Custom made mouthguards made by a dental professional

Why we recommend custom made mouthguards by a dental professional:

1. Much more comfortable as the mouthguard is made to fit your mouth
2. Offers superior protection because of the better fit of the mouthguard
3. More comfortable to speak and breathe whilst being worn
4. Can be used for longer (except in children of a certain age who are actively losing baby teeth)

Mouthguard do’s and don’t’s:

1. Don’t share mouthguards, they are not one size fits all, and wearing an ill-fitting mouthguard may not adequately protect you from dental injuries.
2. Be sure to clean your mouthguard regularly and keep it in a safe place (the box you got it in is always a good idea). We recommend a gentle scrub with a toothbrush (no toothpaste) in cold water, and using a denture cleaning tablet every few weeks.
3. Label your mouthguard clearly (if yours wasn’t labelled by your dental professional)
4. Don’t ever immerse your mouthguard in hot or boiling water as it may warp and no longer fit your mouth properly.
5. Check your mouthguard fits properly prior to every new sports season (particularly important for children whose mouths are growing constantly, and may have adult teeth growing).

Do you have questions about a custom made mouthguards? We make custom made mouthguards at our Claremont dental practice, so can have them ready with a quick turnaround time. We also have intra-oral scanners, so you will not need to have any gooey, messy molds of your mouth taken. 

Call our friendly team on 6143 5655, or book online for a consultation right here.