How To Choose The Right Athletic Mouth Guard For Sports

We’ve all seen the headlines—an athlete is forced to sit out after getting hit in the face and losing a tooth. From Alphonso Davies to Isaiah Thomas, even the pros aren’t immune. But protecting yourself from sports injuries is something you shouldn’t overlook. Protective devices like sports mouth guards can make a big difference in preventing injuries during physical activities.

Mouth guards in general, come in various types. It may be for sports, teeth grinding or even sleep apnea and all of them serve different purposes. But don’t worry, we’re here to make it simple. In this article, we’ll focus on the mouth guards designed specifically for sports. Whether you’re a seasoned athlete or just getting started, this guide will help you choose a sports guard that keeps you safe and comfortable.

What are sports mouth guards?

Athletic mouthguards, also known as sports mouthguards, are protective devices designed to cushion the mouth and reduce the risk of dental injuries and orofacial injuries during sports and high-contact activities. They are made from a thermoplastic material and are an essential piece of equipment for athletes engaged in sports especially where the potential injury to the teeth, gums and tongue is significant.

Sports guards are not just for high-contact sports. In fact, the American Dental Association has recommended sports guards to be worn for at least 29 sports, which are listed below.

Using sports mouthguards is proven to decrease the risk of concussion and other sports-related injuries. Not only that, sports guards has also be show to improve performance. One study showed that the peak power and average power of Taekwondo athletes improved when they wore sports guards. As a preventive measure, they are an investment in an athlete's health, ensuring both safety during play and long-term protection of their dental welfare.

At Dental Designs Clinic, we take pride in offering a range of custom-made sports guards tailored to meet your specific needs. Each sports guard is created in our in-house dental lab, ensuring quality control, optimal protection and maximum comfort. Click here to find out more about sports guards with Dental Designs Clinic.

What are the factors to consider when choosing athletic mouth guards?

1) Level of Activity and Sport Played

Sports guard come in various designs and features. The type of sports guard you wear depends on the type of sport that you play.

Single Mouthpiece Sports Guard

The single mouthpiece guard is the most common type of mouth guard for most athletes. It’s designed to fit over your upper teeth and acts as a cushion to absorb impact, helping to prevent common dental injuries like chipped, knocked-out or broken teeth.

What’s great about this dental guard is that while it protects your upper teeth, it doesn’t restrict your lower jaw from moving naturally, so it’s comfortable and allows you to breathe and talk easily.

Recommended for: It is recommended for all activities that pose a risk to your teeth, particularly contact and combat sports such as martial arts, football, ice hockey, mountain biking and gymnastics.

Sports Guard with Bite Lamination

This one is similar to the single mouthpiece guard but has an added feature: it’s laminated on the bottom to match the shape and indentations of your lower teeth. The idea here is that the bite indentations help position the lower jaw in an ideal alignment when athletes bite down. This positioning provides more than just protection—it helps improve performance. By keeping the jaw in the right position, it allows athletes to focus better and enhances their strength.

When the jaw is aligned correctly, it reduces unnecessary muscle tension and strain, helping athletes maintain a more stable and powerful stance. This is especially beneficial in activities like weightlifting or martial arts, where clenching the jaw is common and can lead to increased power and concentration during intense moments. The bite lamination ensures that the jaw stays set, allowing for optimal performance.

Recommended for: Activities like weightlifting, long distance runners and golf, where having a stable bite and improved focus is key. The bite lamination gives you that extra bit of control, especially when you’re clenching during intense moments.

Double Mouthpiece Sports Guard

If you’re looking for maximum protection, the double mouthpiece guard has you covered—literally! It fits over both your upper and lower teeth, offering complete protection and helping stabilise your jaw during intense activity. This type of guard is ideal for sports where there’s a lot of contact or fast movements, as it reduces the risk of serious jaw injuries.

Recommended for: Heavy contact sports like boxing, rugby, hockey or football, where you need to protect both your teeth and your jaw. This is especially good for professional athletes or anyone involved in combat sports who wants the highest level of protection.

Each guard type offers something a little different, so it’s all about finding the right one for your sport and comfort level!

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2) Age and Dental Health of the Athlete

The age and dental health of an athlete play a significant role in selecting an appropriate athletic mouthguard. Younger athletes and children, whose dental structures are still developing, might need to change their mouthguards regularly as their jaw are continuously growing.

Dental injuries in children are quite common and can be really damaging to their growing teeth. To prevent these issues, it’s best to start using protective gear and dental protection early on. The Australian Dental Association recommends that children wear sports guards as soon as they begin participating in organised contact sports. Getting into this habit early helps protect their teeth and keeps their smiles safe.

For adult athletes with a complete set of permanent teeth, a boil and bite mouthguard is an affordable option that softens in hot water, allowing it to be molded to the shape of your teeth for a better fit. In contrast, custom mouthguards are professionally designed by a dentist, offering superior comfort and protection as they are tailored specifically to your mouth's structure.

3) Recommendations from Coaches and Dentists

The input of professionals such as coaches and dentists is invaluable when choosing an athletic mouthguard. Coaches, familiar with the demands and risks of the sport, can provide insights into risk of injury and may recommend a particular level of protective mouthguard protection. Dentists, on the other hand, can advise on the best type of mouthguard considering an individual’s unique dental anatomy and health concerns.

Conclusion

By weighing the advice of these experts and considering their own needs and circumstances, athletes can make informed decisions about their mouthguards, ultimately reducing their risk of concussion, dental injuries and other orofacial damages.

Ready to book a dental appointment with us? Simply drop us as message here and our dental team will be right with you!

References

• Cetin, C., Keçeci, A. D., Erdoğan, A., & Baydar, M. L. (2009). Influence of custom‐made mouth guards on strength, speed and anaerobic performance of taekwondo athletes. Dental Traumatology, 25(3), 272-276.
• Knapik JJ, Marshall SW, Lee RB, Darakjy SS, Jones SB, Mitchener TA, delaCruz GG, Jones BH. Mouthguards in sport activities : history, physical properties and injury prevention effectiveness. Sports Med. 2007;37(2):117-44. doi: 10.2165/00007256-200737020-00003. PMID: 17241103.