A sports mouth guard is a cushioned appliance worn over your teeth during sports to protect them, your lips and your tongue from impact. Redondo Beach Dental Group provides sports mouth guards alongside its general and family dentistry in Redondo Beach, a short drive from Manhattan Beach and Torrance.
The American Dental Association calls a mouthguard an essential piece of athletic gear that should be part of your standard equipment from an early age. A 2007 review in Sports Medicine found, across pooled studies, that the risk of a mouth or face injury in sport was 1.6 to 1.9 times higher when a mouthguard was not worn. The same review found the evidence on concussion inconsistent, so a guard should not be counted on to prevent one. Call (310) 542-6988 if you or your athlete need one before the season starts.
Who Should Wear a Sports Mouth Guard
Collision and contact sports such as boxing, football, hockey, wrestling and rugby carry the highest risk to the mouth. The ADA also points out that any athlete can injure their teeth, including in non-contact activities such as gymnastics and skating. A guard is worth considering if you or your child:
- Plays a contact or collision sport, in a league or at practice
- Does an activity with a high fall risk, such as skateboarding, biking, skating or gymnastics
- Has braces, where the ADA says a properly fitted guard may be especially important
- Has fixed bridgework, which a blow to the face could damage
Your top teeth take most of the impact because they stick out further, which is why most guards cover the upper teeth. If you have braces on your lower teeth too, your dentist or orthodontist may suggest a lower guard as well.
The Three Types of Mouth Guards
The ADA describes three types of mouthguard, and the difference between them is mostly fit.
- Stock: inexpensive and pre-formed, ready to wear from the package. They often do not fit well, and they can be bulky enough to make breathing and talking difficult.
- Boil and bite: sold at sporting goods stores and drugstores. You soften the guard in hot water and bite into it so it adapts to your mouth, which can give a better fit than a stock guard. Follow the manufacturer’s directions.
- Custom-made: made by a dentist for you personally. They cost more than the other two because they are individually created for fit and comfort.
Custom or Store-Bought?
The ADA says the best mouthguard is one custom made for your mouth by your dentist. It also says that if you cannot afford a custom guard, you should still wear a stock or boil-and-bite guard rather than play without one.
A custom guard is worth asking about when:
- You play a collision or contact sport often, so comfort decides whether you actually wear it
- You have braces, bridgework or other dental work to protect
- A store guard keeps slipping, makes it hard to breathe or talk, or leaves your mouth sore
- A growing athlete has outgrown a store guard and needs the fit checked
If cost or timing rules out a custom guard for now, the ADA’s advice is to wear a store guard in the meantime. Guards ordered by mail from a mouth guard company are a separate option, and they are not the same as one your dentist checks in person. If you are comparing, ask us what a custom guard involves and what it will cost for your sport.
Mouth Guards for Children and Teen Athletes
The ADA says a mouthguard should be standard equipment from an early age, and that teens and children may need to replace theirs more often because their mouths are still growing and changing. A guard that fit last season may not fit now, so check it before each season. Ask us what suits your child’s age and sport, and mention the guard at your next pediatric dentistry visit as their mouth changes.
Braces, Retainers and Bridgework
A blow to the face can damage brackets and other fixed appliances, and a guard also forms a barrier between braces and your cheeks and lips, which helps you avoid cuts to the gums and cheeks. The ADA also advises not wearing a retainer or other removable appliance during contact sports. If you have fixed dental bridges or are in orthodontic treatment, ask your dentist which guard suits your mouth.
Caring for Your Mouth Guard
The ADA gives these steps for keeping a guard ready between games:
- Rinse it before and after each use, or brush it with a toothbrush and toothpaste
- Clean it regularly in cool, soapy water, then rinse it well
- Store it in a sturdy, vented container so it can dry
- Never leave it in the sun or in hot water
- Keep it away from pets, who may treat it as a chew toy
Replace a guard right away if it is worn, damaged or no longer fits well. The ADA also suggests bringing it to your regular dental cleaning and exam for an evaluation.
Sports Guards and Night Guards
A sports guard is built to absorb impact during activity. If you also wake with a sore jaw or have been told you grind your teeth, that is a different job, and a night guard is made for it.
Who You Will See
Dr. Moshe Eizdi leads care at Redondo Beach Dental Group. He earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree at the University of Southern California, where he graduated with honors, and his work covers cosmetic and restorative dentistry, including implant restorations.
What a Custom Sports Mouth Guard Costs and How Insurance Handles It
A custom guard costs more than a store guard, and the price depends on the type of guard, the material, whether it covers your upper teeth, lower teeth or both, and your sport. Ask us for an estimate for your situation.
Coverage varies by plan, and some plans cover part of a custom guard while others exclude it. Ask us how your plan applies to this treatment. We accept PPO plans, and for costs your plan does not cover we offer payment plans through Cherry, CareCredit and LendingClub, plus an in-office plan for patients without insurance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to get a custom mouth guard?
The cost of a custom mouth guard depends on the type of guard, the material, whether it covers one arch or both, and your sport. A custom guard costs more than a store-bought one because it is made individually for fit and comfort. Ask us for an estimate for your situation.
What are the three types of mouth guards?
The three types of sports mouth guards are stock, boil-and-bite and custom-made. Stock guards come ready to wear, boil-and-bite guards are softened in hot water and shaped to your teeth at home, and custom-made guards are made for you by a dentist.
Can a regular dentist make a mouth guard?
A dentist can provide a custom mouth guard, and the American Dental Association says the best mouthguard is one made for your mouth by your dentist. Redondo Beach Dental Group provides sports mouth guards, so ask us what is involved for your sport.
Is it worth getting a custom mouth guard?
A custom mouth guard is usually worth considering if you play a contact sport often, wear braces or have bridgework to protect. The ADA calls a guard custom made by your dentist the best option, and says a stock or boil-and-bite guard should still be worn if a custom one is out of reach.
What are the downsides of wearing a mouth guard?
The main downsides of wearing a mouth guard are comfort and upkeep. A guard that fits poorly can feel bulky, make breathing and talking harder, or leave your mouth sore, and every guard needs cleaning and eventual replacement. If a guard bothers you, ask us about it rather than leaving it out.
Do mouth guards prevent concussions?
Mouth guards have not been shown to prevent concussions. A 2007 review of the research found the evidence on concussion inconsistent, while the protection for teeth, lips and the face was clearer, so a guard protects your mouth and does not replace a helmet or other concussion safety measures.
How long does it take to get a custom mouth guard?
How long a custom mouth guard takes depends on the office and the type of guard. Ask us how long yours will take, especially if your season starts soon, and book early so your guard is ready before the first game.
Get a Custom Sports Mouth Guard in Redondo Beach
Redondo Beach Dental Group is at 2511 Artesia Blvd, Redondo Beach, CA 90278. We are open Monday 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Tuesday 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Wednesday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Call (310) 542-6988 or request an appointment online, and tell us which sport you play.