Sports Mouthguards: Why They Matter and Why Custom Beats Store-Bought

Not all mouthguards are created equal. If you’ve ever bought a cheap “boil-and-bite” mouthguard from a sports shop, you know they can be bulky, awkward, or uncomfortable. While any mouthguard is better than nothing, there are big differences between the generic ones you mould at home and a dentist-made custom mouthguard. Here’s why a custom-fitted mouthguard is the superior choice for serious protection and comfort:

● Perfect Fit and Better Protection: Custom mouthguards are made from an exact mould or 3D scan of your teeth, so they fit snugly and securely over your unique bite. This precise fit ensures the guard stays in place even during hard hits, covering all the critical areas it should. By contrast, store-bought guards (whether the boil-and-bite style or basic stock guards) are one-size-fits-all or one-size-fits-most. A boil-and-bite guard softens in hot water and is then self-moulded to your teeth, but it’s still far less accurate than a professional impression. Often, the fit is loose or requires you to constantly clench your teeth to keep the guard in place. A loose guard can pop out at the worst moment, offering no protection when you actually need it. With a custom guard, you can trust that it will stay in place and absorb impact evenly, providing maximum protection against broken or knocked-out teeth.

● Comfort and Ease of Breathing: A huge advantage of custom guards is comfort. Because they’re contoured to your exact teeth and gums, you’ll barely notice it’s there – no bulky plastic making you gag or struggle to close your lips. Athletes report that custom-fitted mouthguards are exceptionally comfortable, allowing them to breathe and speak easily during play. This is really important: if a mouthguard is comfortable, you’re far more likely to actually wear it consistently. Many players with inexpensive boil-and-bite guards end up chewing on them or removing them frequently because they find them cumbersome. That defeats the purpose of having it! A custom guard, on the other hand, feels natural in your mouth. As one professional put it, a good custom guard can fit so well that you can even drink water without removing it. When you can talk, breathe, and play comfortably, you’ll keep the mouthguard in – and it will be there protecting you every second of the game.

● Durability and Long-Term Value: Custom sports mouthguards are typically made from high-quality, resilient materials (like medical-grade EVA plastic) that can withstand repeated impacts and last for multiple seasons. They won’t tear or flatten out as easily as the cheap over-the-counter versions. Store-bought mouthguards, especially the basic stock kind, tend to be made of thinner material that wears out quickly, often needing replacement every season or even sooner if the athlete is an aggressive chewer. With a custom mouthguard, you pay a bit more upfront, but you get a longer lifespan and better protection. Many athletes actually save money in the long run because a well-maintained custom guard can last several years, whereas they might burn through multiple boil-and-bite guards in the same time. 

● Tailored for Orthodontics and Growing Athletes: If you (or your child) wear braces or have unique dental work, a custom-made mouthguard is practically a necessity. Generic mouthguards often don’t fit over braces properly, and they can even get stuck or cause the brackets to snap off. A dentist-made guard can be designed to fit comfortably over orthodontic appliances, providing a smooth barrier between the braces and your cheeks to prevent cuts. (In fact, ASTM safety guidelines advise that athletes with braces should only use dentist-fitted mouthguards) For children who are still growing or have a mix of baby and adult teeth, a custom mouthguard can better accommodate these changes. The dentist can adjust the fit as new teeth come in or baby teeth fall out, ensuring continuous protection. While growing kids will eventually need new mouthguards as their mouths change, a custom-fit guard will still offer the best protection during each stage and can be remade as needed. Your dentist can guide you on when it’s time to replace the guard to keep up with growth.

● Personalisation (Makes Kids Want to Wear It!): One of the fun perks of custom mouthguards is that you can personalise them. When we make a sports guard at our office, you can choose the colour or even multi-colour patterns, and often we can add your name, jersey number, or team logo into the mouthguard itself. Kids and teens absolutely love this – instead of a plain piece of plastic, their mouthguard becomes something unique and cool that shows off their team spirit. We’ve found that young athletes who get to design their own custom mouthguard (say, in their school colours or with a cool graphic) are excited to wear it, rather than “forgetting” it in their bag. This friendly customisation can be a great way to encourage safety compliance. It’s not just protective gear, it’s part of their identity on the field!

In short, while an over-the-counter boil-and-bite mouthguard is cheap and better than nothing, it simply can’t match the fit, comfort, and protection of a dentist-made custom mouthguard. As one sports dentistry expert explained, even though there are many commercial mouthguards out there, “custom-fabricated mouthguards, properly fitted by a dentist, can optimise fit and comfort, which contributes to better compliance in wearing them”(source). When an athlete finds their mouthguard easy to wear, they’ll keep it in their mouth where it belongs – and that could make all the difference when an accident happens.