A single blow to the mouth or jaw can cause serious dental damage that is very painful and expensive to treat resulting in months or even years of treatment. You can minimize the risk of this type of injury by using a custom mouthguard when you take part in sports and other recreational activities.

What is a custom mouth guard?

Custom mouthguards are appliances that are made by taking an impression of your teeth to create a custom guard that fits over your teeth. When worn during sports or other athletic activities involving contact with other people or objects, custom mouthguards help protect against injuries to the teeth and other areas in and around your mouth.

Custom mouthguards protect you

When you are hit in the mouth or jaw, a mouthguard acts as a cushion that redistributes the force of the blow, so the impact is absorbed more evenly. A mouthguard also provides a barrier between your teeth and the soft tissue in and around your mouth. Custom mouthguards help prevent chipped or broken teeth and protect against cuts to lips, gums, and other soft tissue in the mouth area.

​If you or your children wear braces or other fixed orthodontic appliances, it is especially important to have a mouthguard that fits properly. Otherwise, a blow to the mouth can damage the brackets and wires of the braces, and can also cause added damage (cuts and tears) to the soft tissue inside your mouth. Mouthguards are usually worn only on the upper teeth, but people with braces on their lower teeth should consider using mouthguards on both sets of teeth.

Take proper care of your custom mouth guard

  • Keep it clean. You can use mild soap and a soft toothbrush. Rinse your mouthguard with cold water or a mouthwash before and after each use.
  • Store it in a ventilated, rigid container. Keep it away from heat, including direct sunlight.
Check your mouthguard regularly for wear and tear. Mouthguards become less effective over time, and should be replaced when they get torn, or become too loose or too thin.
Dry mouth can cause frequent thirst, bad breath, or difficulty chewing and can even lead to tooth decay or gum disease.