Sports-related injuries to the mouth and jaw are some of the most common injuries incurred by athletes. Our goal is to help minimize your chances of a sports-related injury to your smile.
Mouthguards help protect your braces, teeth, lips, and cheeks from injury. If you participate in basketball, boxing, hockey, football, lacrosse, racquetball, rugby, volleyball, wrestling, or any other contact sport, we recommend that you wear a mouthguard to help protect your teeth, smile, and appliances.
Types of mouthguards
Choosing the right mouthguard is extremely important! There are three basic types of mouthguards:
1. Pre-made or stock mouthguard
We carry Shock Doctor® mouthguards that are made specifically for athletes with braces to protect their braces, teeth, lips, and cheeks from injuries. Shock Doctor® mouthguards are made of 100% medical-grade silicone and adapt to changes in tooth position as braces are adjusted.
2. Custom-made mouthguard from your orthodontist
We offer custom-made mouthguards that are specially designed to provide optimal protection against mouth injuries. Our custom mouthguards offer the best protection for your teeth during treatment, because they are customized to your teeth and bite, and the most exciting part is that you can get just about any color you would like!
3. "Boil-and-Bite" fitted mouthguard
If you are in braces, you should not use a boil-and-bite mouthguard, because it will prevent the desired tooth movements. These are great options after orthodontic treatment is completed though.
Taking care of your mouthguard
Similar to a retainer, it is important to take care of your mouthguard by keeping it clean and storing it properly in its case when you're not using it. We recommend that you replace your mouthguard at the beginning of every new sports season. You should also replace your mouthguard if you notice it has become worn or no longer fits properly.
