Custom Mouthguards: Are They Really Worth It? - Your Dental Health Resource (2024)

Many people remember mouthguards as those bulky, uncomfortable things that they had to wear during childhood sports. Buying mouthguards at the store is easy and can be relatively inexpensive, but they’re often the wrong fit for our individual mouths. This not only makes store-bought mouthguards uncomfortable—they tend to lack in their ability to fully protect our mouths as well. Here’s why custom mouthguards are definitely worth the cost and effort for sports and teeth grinding!

Reduce Discomfort

Here’s what happens when you have to wear something uncomfortable: you don’t end up wearing it. Like that pair of 5-inch heels or a too-tight shirt in the closet, it just doesn’t get used. When you need a mouthguard for essential protection such as from contact sports or teeth grinding (also called bruxism), not wearing your mouthguard could set you up for serious damage to your teeth. Getting a mouthguard that’s made specifically for your mouth and actually fits can reduce discomfort and ensure that you’ll use your protective gear!

Enhance Protection

When you get a custom mouthguard, impressions are taken at your dentist’s office in order to ensure a perfect fit. This custom fit means that your mouthguard will fit your mouth impeccably and will be so comfortable you may not even know you’re wearing it. This increases the chances you’ll actually wear your mouthguard, therefore resulting in a better-protected smile!

However, ensuring a custom-fit also means that each and every tooth is protected. When you buy generic mouthguards at the store, it’s hard to ensure protection because these mouthguards were not made with your unique mouth in mind. With custom mouthguards, every tooth in your mouth is fully protected to resist damage from sports or bruxism.

Breathe Better

Have you ever tried to run with a huge mouthguard in? It feels impossible to get enough oxygen into your lungs when you’re wearing an improperly-fitting mouthguard. Having you or your child wear these mouthguards during sports or while sleeping just isn’t safe—you need to breathe well to ensure proper oxygen intake to nourish your body.

With custom-fitted mouthguards, the discomfort is gone, the protection is there, and you can breathe better. This is because this mouthguard was made specifically for you. It’s not too big or too small, and your airway is left unobstructed by a custom-fitting mouthguard. Breathe easier during sports and sleep with these custom devices!

Getting a custom mouthguard is absolutely worth the effort and the cost at your dentist’s office. This is because it better protects your teeth, is more comfortable, and allows you to breathe properly regardless of what you need to do with your mouthguard in. Ask your dentist about getting custom mouthguards to fully protect your smile!