Sports Mouthguards

Sports Mouthguards

Mouthguards at Marius Street Family Dental

  • Choose your own colours or the colours of your sports team
  • Get your name printed into it, or your team name
  • We follow the latest guidelines from the Australian Dental Association (ADA) on the fabrication, use and maintenance of sports mouthguards.
  • We support the ADA’s “No Guard, No play” policy – If you are a sports club or team, please contact us to enquire about special mouthguard packages for the team. If you are a club looking to put in place a mandatory mouthguard policy, you are welcome to download this form endorsed by both the ADA and Sports Medicine Australia (SMA).

Why do I need a dentally made custom-fit mouthguard?

Most people are familiar with mouthguards and what they are designed to do. However not many people understand what the difference between a “boil and bite” mouthguard available from chemists and a dentally made, custom-fit mouthguard. We believe this is the reason that 3 in 4 are risking their teeth and playing with the cheaper alternative.

So, what is the difference?

  • The fit. A mouthguard is designed to absorb and then spread the impact of a blow across all your teeth and jaws evenly. If it doesn’t fit exactly to your teeth and jaws, there will be a bit of air between, which means the force doesn’t spread evenly. Studies have shown that over-the-counter mouthguards can be equal to wearing no mouthguard, or even worse. Worse, it has been reported that in severe trauma, they can slip off and lodge in the back of the throat, which is life threatening. Read about a hockey player’s mouthguard failure
  • Thickness and layers: there is a lot more to a mouthguard than meets the eye. They must be at least 4mm thick. Ones designed for sports usually have several different layers.
  • Comfort and performance: your dentist will design your mouthguard to fit the contours of your mouth. This balances your bite and allows speech and normal breathing. Studies show that a good mouthguard does not impede an athlete’s performance, however a poorly fitted one does. Although thick and bulky, you should be able to talk with your mouthguard in and not have it slip. It also means that you’re much more likely to be wearing your mouthguard when you need it most.

Cost: obviously, there is a difference in cost. Over the counter “boil and bite” mouthguards can range from $5 to $80. Contrary to some claims, custom-made mouthguards don’t cost “several thousand”, although we don’t doubt that some of the elite have paid that much for theirs. A sports mouthguard will cost you less than $200, and often your health insurance will cover a substantial amount of this. We like to consider mouthguards a type of health insurance, as we know for a fact that one bad fall or blow can result in a lifetime expense of dental care – and no matter what we do, nothing is as good as your own teeth. Unfortunately, dental trauma more often than not damages several teeth, results in jaw fracture or jaw joint problems – damage which sometimes, money can’t fix.

Read about Tash’s experience after playing sport with both types below.

"I have been playing hockey since I could walk. Through my time playing I have mainly worn the chemist self mouldable mouth guards. These mouth guards where great for the first game but the more games I played,the more uncomfortable they became. I found that they would fall apart and no longer fit my mouth correctly. They always seemed to restrict my breathing and ability to communicate with fellow team mates and fall out from a simple bump or having my mouth open".

"I then had a professional mouth guard made and have never gone back. I love it, so comfortable! I also have a permanent bonded retainer (after braces) on my teeth and have no issue with it fitting. It fits my mouth perfectly and does not fall out even if my mouth is open. I found them easier to play in as they didn’t move from my teeth, they allowed me to clearly communicate with players and breath easily. I felt a lot safer playing in a professional mouth guard as I knew they were thicker and able to absorb a hit. I highly recommend a mouthguard made for your teeth by a professional. They also do pretty cool colour combos!"


What are the different types of ‘dental custom fit mouthguards’?

Even within professionally made mouthguards, there are different types

Single layer mouthguard - these are generally used for very low impact sports or for growing children as they are the most affordable type. If your child still has some baby teeth, it is a good option - and we can block out the teeth they will lose soon to get more longevity

Dual Layer Mouthguard - “Standard Sports Mouthguard” - Comprises of an outer and inner layers of sportsguard material, offering 2 levels of shock absorption and distribution. Suitable for moderate impact

Professional Mouthguard - Triple layer. Suitable for high impact sports such as boxing, hockey or adult/high level contact sport. It has an extra hard layer placed in the middle. The first layer absorbs some of the impact, the second hard layer distributes the impact and the third layer provides further shock absorption before the force reaches your teeth.

Mouthguard instructions:

  • Wash it under COLD water before and after use (not hot as it may deform the material). Clean it with a soft toothbrush and liquid hand soap (not toothpaste as it is abrasive). Do not expose it to any other cleaning agents or chemicals.
  • Keep it out of the sun and heat
  • Bring it to your dentist everytime you have a filling or a change to your teeth
  • Get us to check it each year for fit and wear. Bring it in for a check if there are any splits or changes, like too loose or tight.