Protect Your Teeth with Custom Mouth Guards and Sports Guards

Custom-fitted mouth protectors are individually designed and made in a dental office or a professional laboratory based on your dentist’s instructions. First, your dentist will make an impression of your teeth and a mouth guard is then molded over the model using a special material. Mouthguards should be used by anyone — children and adults — who play contact sports such as football, boxing, soccer, ice hockey, basketball, lacrosse, and field hockey. However, even those participating in noncontact sports (for example, gymnastics) and any recreational activity (for example, skateboarding, or mountain biking) that might pose a risk of injury to the mouth would benefit from wearing a protective mouth guard.

Adults and youth who grind their teeth at night should wear a night guard or clear bite splint to prevent tooth damage. Occasionally check the mouth guard for general wear. If you find holes or tears in it or if it becomes loose or causes discomfort, replace it. Bring the mouth guard to each regularly scheduled dental visit to have your dentist examine that