Reduce Injury Risk – A custom mouthguard is less likely to bruise or cut your face when you take a hit than a store-bought guard. Custom guards also reduce the risk of jaw dislocation, tooth loss, and neck injury. The guard acts as a buffer during impact so that the teeth do not puncture soft tissue or each other. The force of a hit is redistributed to cause minimal or no damage to the teeth and jaw. Perhaps one of the most important functions of the guard is to protect against concussions that can cause brain damage and potentially end an athlete’s career. The guard does this by absorbing much of the shock caused by the jaws being slammed together.

Designed for Comfort – Custom guards feel better than generic guards. This increases the likelihood that a player will actually wear the guard and be protected from injury. This is vital because one study showed players without a mouthpiece are 60 times as likely to suffer an injury to their teeth.

Improve Performance – Custom guards do not affect speech or breathing like a generic guard might. This allows an athlete to communicate effectively with teammates. It also allows the athlete to get the oxygen needed for optimal gameplay. Breathing properly allows a player to perform better and last longer.

The benefits of a custom fit sports mouthguard are clear. You get better protection than you would from a store bought mouthguard. The custom fit also encourages use of the guard because it is comfortable and does not affect gameplay like a poor fitting guard might.

Because of the dangers of playing without a guard, we encourage all athletes to have a custom fit guard made as soon as possible. If you are currently using a store bought guard, it is time to up your game and give your neck, head, and mouth more protection by upgrading to custom fit.

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Dry mouth is a common problem that people encounter when exercising or participating in sports. Saliva serves a dual purpose; it not only keeps our mouths moist, but it also washes away food particles that get left on our teeth and reduces acid buildup from foods. A lack of saliva can be uncomfortable, cause bad breath, and reduce the effectiveness of the natural bacteria-fighting process. It is important to keep saliva production at normal levels to work against bacteria and gum disease.

Most athletes combat dry mouth and dehydration by drinking water or sports drinks. Sports drinks are popular because of their flavors and because they claim to be better than water for replacing electrolytes and increasing energy. The problem with sports drinks is that they usually contain sugar, which causes trouble for the teeth. Water can replace fluid in the body without sugar, and it can keep the mouth moist and help to wash away bacteria and acids. If you must drink sport drinks, rinsing with water after drinking a sports drink can help remove some of the extra sugar. You can also chew sugar-free gum after meals or during rest periods in training to increase saliva production.

Athletes who experience oral health issues that lead to toothache or mouth pain may find the pain to be interfering with their rest, which can affect athletic performance. Most athletes are well-prepared to deal with the muscle aches and pains that are part of athletic life, but being prepared for mouth pain by wearing a mouthguard during all physical activity and practicing good oral hygiene is equally important.

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