Every season, athletes at every level face the possibility of dental and facial trauma. Collisions, falls, and projectiles — from a stray elbow in basketball to a ball in baseball — can quickly cause cracked teeth, knocked-out teeth, lacerated lips and cheeks, and injuries to the jaw. Even non-contact sports carry risks: a misstep on the field or an awkward fall on a hard surface can result in painful and expensive dental damage if proper protection is not in place.
Beyond the immediate pain and inconvenience, dental injuries can have longer-term consequences. A fractured tooth may require root canal therapy or a crown, and a lost tooth can alter bite alignment, contribute to bone loss, and affect speech and chewing. Soft-tissue injuries like cheek and tongue lacerations are common and can be severe enough to require stitches. Understanding these risks is the first step toward preventing them.
For parents, coaches, and athletes, recognizing how frequently these injuries occur helps prioritize preventative measures. Proper protective equipment, including helmets and face shields where appropriate, plays a major role—but for oral protection specifically, a well-fitted mouthguard is one of the most effective defenses against the kinds of injuries that commonly occur in athletic settings.
Mouthguards act as a shock-absorbing barrier between the teeth and any external force. When a blow to the face occurs, the mouthguard disperses impact energy across the dental arch and reduces the transmission of force to individual teeth and the underlying bone. This absorption helps lower the risk of tooth fractures, root damage, and avulsions (teeth knocked completely out).
In addition to protecting hard tissue, mouthguards protect soft tissues such as the lips, cheeks, and tongue. During sudden impacts, teeth can be driven into these soft tissues, causing painful lacerations and bruising. A mouthguard covers sharp tooth edges and provides a cushion, significantly reducing the chance of oral cuts and the need for emergency treatment.
Another important, sometimes overlooked benefit is the role mouthguards play in stabilizing the jaw. By positioning the lower jaw slightly forward and cushioning the bite, a mouthguard can lessen the risk of jaw fractures and help mitigate forces that could otherwise transmit through the temporomandibular joints. For athletes who have suffered prior concussions or jaw injuries, a properly designed guard can be part of a comprehensive protective strategy.
There are three common categories of mouthguards available to athletes: stock (ready-to-wear), boil-and-bite, and custom-made. Stock mouthguards are preformed and sold in general sizes; they’re inexpensive and immediately available but often fit poorly and can impede breathing or speech. Boil-and-bite models improve upon stock guards by allowing users to soften and mold the material to their teeth, offering a better fit for many people.
Custom mouthguards are fabricated from an impression or digital scan of the athlete’s teeth and are made by a dental professional. These deliver superior fit, comfort, and retention compared with over-the-counter options. For athletes who wear braces, have special restorative work, or play contact sports at high intensity, a custom guard provides tailored protection that addresses individual dental anatomy and treatment needs.
Choosing the right type depends on the athlete’s age, the sport’s contact level, and any existing dental conditions. While boil-and-bite guards can be a reasonable improvement over stock models and are commonly used at youth levels, custom guards consistently offer better performance in terms of protection, comfort, and longevity—an important consideration for serious competitors and those with unique dental situations.
Custom mouthguards are built from precise impressions or 3D scans of the mouth, allowing the dental laboratory to craft a device that matches the contours of the teeth and gums. This exact fit reduces slippage and gagging and improves the athlete’s ability to breathe and communicate during play. Because comfort matters for compliance, athletes are more likely to wear a guard consistently when it fits well.
Beyond comfort, custom guards can be engineered for specific performance goals. Thicker materials may be selected for athletes in high-impact sports, while thinner, more flexible designs suit those prioritizing speech and breathing without sacrificing protection. Some labs offer multi-layered designs that combine shock absorption with durable outer shells to improve both energy distribution and wear resistance.
For athletes undergoing orthodontic treatment or those with crowns, implants, or veneers, custom guards can be adapted to protect vulnerable areas while accommodating appliances. A dental professional will consider bite alignment and jaw position when prescribing a custom guard, aiming to preserve normal jaw mechanics and reduce the risk of secondary injuries during impact.
Keeping a mouthguard clean and in good condition is essential for both hygiene and performance. Rinse the guard with cool water after each use and occasionally clean it with a soft toothbrush and mild soap or a denture cleaner recommended by your dental team. Avoid hot water, which can warp the material, and store the guard in a ventilated case to prevent bacterial growth when not in use.
Inspect your mouthguard regularly for signs of wear: thinning material, holes, cracks, or a loose fit are indicators that the guard’s protective ability is compromised. Children and adolescents may need new guards more frequently because of dental growth and orthodontic changes. Likewise, athletes who play often or use guards daily should monitor condition closely and replace guards as soon as deterioration appears.
Schedule a check during routine dental visits so your provider can evaluate fit and function. If you’ve experienced a significant blow to the mouth—even if you feel fine—bring your guard to the appointment. It’s possible the guard absorbed force and sustained damage that isn’t immediately visible but reduces its protective value. Proactive care extends the useful life of the device and ensures dependable protection when it matters most.
Making mouthguards part of a team’s standard equipment begins with education and easy access. Coaches and parents should emphasize that a properly fitted mouthguard is essential safety gear, comparable to helmets and shin guards. Encouraging athletes to try different types early—especially a professionally made option when warranted—helps them find a guard that doesn’t interfere with performance or breathing.
Develop a simple routine: store the mouthguard in its case after cleaning, check it weekly for wear, and replace it when signs of damage appear. Young athletes benefit from reminders as they grow; a mouthguard that fit last season may not be adequate this year. For teams, keeping a supply of boil-and-bite guards for quick replacement is practical, but planning for custom guards for high-risk players offers better, longer-term protection.
When choosing a dental provider for a custom guard, look for a practice experienced in sports dentistry and comfortable working with athletes of all ages. Locally based practices in Bergenfield, New Jersey, often collaborate with coaches and trainers to recommend the best guard for each sport and athlete. A well-informed approach makes mouthguard use a simple, effective habit that preserves smiles and keeps athletes on the field longer.
In summary, mouthguards are a proven, practical way to reduce the risk of dental and facial injuries during athletic activity. Whether you opt for an over-the-counter model or a custom-made device, the best choice is the one that fits well and is used consistently. If you’d like guidance tailored to your sport, age, or dental history, contact Suss Dental Group for more information and professional recommendations.
Athletes at every level face a measurable risk of dental and facial injuries during practices and games. Common incidents include chipped or fractured teeth, tooth avulsions (teeth knocked out), lacerations to lips and cheeks, and traumatic jaw injuries. Even non-contact sports can cause damage through falls or impacts with the ground or equipment.
Beyond immediate pain and interruption to sport, dental injuries can require extensive restorative care and may have long-term effects on bite, speech and bone health. A single knocked-out tooth can lead to bone loss if not promptly managed, while fractures often need root canal therapy or crowns to restore function. Understanding how frequently these injuries occur helps athletes, parents and coaches make prevention a priority.
Mouthguards work as shock-absorbing barriers that distribute impact forces across the dental arch rather than concentrating them on individual teeth. By spreading energy from blows to the face, a mouthguard reduces the chance of tooth fractures, root damage and tooth avulsion. They also limit direct contact between teeth and soft tissues, lowering the risk of cuts to the lips, cheeks and tongue.
A properly fitted guard can also help stabilize jaw position and reduce transmission of force through the temporomandibular joints, which may lower the risk of jaw fractures and secondary injuries. For athletes with a history of concussions or jaw trauma, a mouthguard should be considered as part of a broader protective strategy advised by dental professionals. Consistent use and correct fit are essential for these protective benefits to be realized during play.
Stock mouthguards are preformed, ready-to-wear devices that are inexpensive and immediately available but often fit poorly and may hinder breathing or speech. Boil-and-bite guards offer improved fit by allowing the wearer to soften and mold the material at home, which can work well for many recreational athletes. Custom mouthguards are fabricated from impressions or digital scans by dental professionals and provide the best combination of fit, comfort and retention.
While boil-and-bite guards are a step up from stock models for many youth and amateur athletes, they still lack the precision of a custom device for long-term use or high-contact sports. Custom guards accommodate unique dental anatomy, orthodontic appliances and restorative work, making them preferable for athletes with special needs or those who play frequently. Choosing the right type depends on the athlete's age, the sport's contact level and any existing dental conditions.
A custom mouthguard is recommended for athletes who play high-impact sports, participate frequently in practices and games, or have complex dental conditions such as braces, crowns or implants. Because these athletes face greater forces and may have sensitive restorations, a tailored device helps ensure reliable protection and compatibility with dental work. Young athletes undergoing orthodontic treatment benefit from custom designs that accommodate brackets while still protecting teeth and soft tissues.
At Suss Dental Group in Bergenfield, New Jersey, we often advise custom guards for competitive players and those with dental restorations to optimize fit and function. Custom guards reduce slippage, improve breathing and communication during play, and can be engineered with materials and thicknesses that match the athlete's sport and position. A dental evaluation helps determine whether a custom solution is the most appropriate choice for each athlete's needs.
The fabrication process for a custom mouthguard begins with a dental impression or a digital intraoral scan that captures the exact contours of the teeth and gums. That model is used by a dental laboratory to craft a guard that conforms precisely to the athlete's bite, providing superior retention and comfort compared with over-the-counter options. During the design phase the dentist and technician select appropriate materials, thickness and layering to balance protection with breathability.
At the delivery appointment the dentist will verify fit, make any minor adjustments and show the athlete how to insert, remove and care for the device. Follow-up visits allow the provider to assess fit over time and make corrections if the guard becomes loose or causes irritation. A clear understanding of the fitting process helps athletes feel more comfortable and more likely to wear the guard consistently.
Most custom mouthguards are made from ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) or multi-layered polymers that combine a softer inner layer for shock absorption with a denser outer shell for durability. Material choice and thickness directly influence how well a guard absorbs impact energy and resists wear, so these factors are tailored to the athlete's sport and level of play. Thicker, multi-layered designs are common for high-impact positions, while thinner constructions prioritize speech and breathing for sports with less contact.
Additional design features such as reinforced occlusal surfaces, contoured flanges for soft-tissue coverage and venting channels for airflow can improve protection and performance without sacrificing comfort. Dental professionals work with laboratories to specify these features based on individual anatomy and competitive needs. A well-designed guard balances energy dissipation, retention and durability to extend service life and maximize protection.
Rinse a mouthguard with cool water immediately after use and clean it regularly with a soft toothbrush and mild soap or a nonabrasive denture cleaner recommended by your dental team. Avoid hot water and harsh chemicals that can warp or degrade the material, and never leave a guard in direct sunlight or inside a hot car. Regular cleaning reduces bacterial buildup and helps maintain fresh odor and taste, which supports athlete compliance.
Store the guard in a ventilated case between uses to allow it to dry and to protect it from contamination, damage and pets. Inspect the device weekly for signs of wear such as thinning, cracks, holes or a loose fit, and bring it to your dental appointment if you notice changes. Maintaining good hygiene and storage habits will extend the guard's usefulness and ensure it performs when needed.
Replace a mouthguard if you notice visible signs of deterioration, including holes, cracks, thinning material or a fit that feels loose compared with when it was new. Even small defects can compromise the guard's ability to absorb energy and protect teeth and soft tissues during impact. You should also replace guards that develop persistent odor or soft spots that cleaning does not resolve.
Children and adolescents may need new guards more frequently because of dental growth and orthodontic changes, and athletes who train daily should inspect their devices more often. After any significant facial impact, bring your guard to the dental visit so the clinician can evaluate it for unseen damage that might reduce protection. Routine checks during regular dental appointments help determine when a replacement is appropriate to maintain dependable safety.
High-contact sports such as football, ice hockey, lacrosse and martial arts carry greater risk of dental trauma and generally warrant the most protective mouthguards. Field sports like soccer or basketball, while sometimes considered lower contact, still produce a high incidence of oral injuries and benefit from mouthguard use. Position and level of play influence the choice of guard; for example, linemen or enforcers who experience repeated impacts often require thicker, more robust designs.
Non-contact or low-contact activities may accept thinner guards that prioritize breathing and communication, but consistent use remains the key factor in reducing injury risk. Coaches and dental professionals can help teams select appropriate guards based on sport-specific demands, equipment interactions such as helmets and face shields, and individual dental considerations. Tailoring protection to sport and position improves comfort and compliance while maximizing safety on the field.
Educating athletes, parents and coaches about the protective role of mouthguards and demonstrating proper fit and care are important first steps for improving compliance. Providing accessible options, such as team fittings or boil-and-bite backups for quick replacements, reduces excuses and increases the likelihood athletes will wear a guard consistently. Clear team policies that require mouthguards during practices and games reinforce the habit and normalize protection across all levels.
Regularly scheduled checks, reminders before practices and a simple storage routine help make mouthguard care part of every athlete's preparation. For team programs interested in coordinated care, Suss Dental Group can collaborate with coaches to arrange fittings, education and follow-up support tailored to player needs. Consistent enforcement, education and easy access together create a culture where protective gear is treated as essential equipment rather than optional.
Ready to schedule your next dental appointment or have questions about our services?
Contacting Suss Dental Group is easy! Our friendly staff is available to assist you with scheduling appointments, answering inquiries about treatment options, and addressing any concerns you may have. Whether you prefer to give us a call, send us an email, or fill out our convenient online contact form, we're here to help. Don't wait to take the first step towards achieving the smile of your dreams – reach out to us today and discover the difference personalized dental care can make.
