Sports-related dental injuries are among the most common and most preventable injuries sustained by athletes of all ages. A hard hit, an elbow, or an unexpected fall can result in a chipped, fractured, or knocked-out tooth—events that are costly, painful, and require significant dental intervention. A properly fitted sports mouthguard is one of the most effective and economical protective devices available, absorbing and distributing the forces of impact to dramatically reduce the risk of dental and jaw injury.
Mouthguards are available at sporting goods stores in stock and boil-and-bite varieties, but neither offers the protection or comfort of a custom-fabricated guard made from dental impressions. Stock guards are ill-fitting and uncomfortable, often requiring the wearer to clench down to hold them in place—which interferes with breathing and communication. Custom sports mouthguards are made from impressions of the athlete’s actual teeth in a dental laboratory using high-quality, impact-absorbing materials. They fit precisely, stay securely in place without clenching, and allow athletes to breathe and speak naturally.
Any athlete participating in a contact sport or an activity with a risk of facial impact should wear a mouthguard. The American Dental Association recommends mouthguards for football, hockey, basketball, baseball, soccer, rugby, wrestling, boxing, and many other sports—both organized and recreational. Mouthguards are especially important for children and adolescents, whose teeth and jaws are still developing and who face many years of sports participation ahead of them.
Athletes wearing braces face a particular challenge—specialized mouthguards designed for orthodontic appliances are available and provide important protection for both the brackets and the soft tissues of the cheeks and lips.
At Cameron Park Dental Care, we take impressions of your teeth and send them to a dental laboratory for fabrication of a custom-fitted sports mouthguard. The process requires two short appointments—one for impressions and one for delivery and fitting. We can accommodate athletes wearing braces or other orthodontic appliances with appropriate design modifications.
A custom sports mouthguard is a small investment relative to the cost of treating a dental injury. Call Cameron Park Dental Care at (530) 676-0400 or schedule an appointment to get fitted for a mouthguard that truly protects your smile.
The American Dental Association recommends mouthguards for a wide range of sports including football, ice hockey, field hockey, basketball, baseball, softball, soccer, rugby, lacrosse, boxing, wrestling, and martial arts. Mouthguards are also beneficial for non-traditional impact sports including skateboarding, mountain biking, gymnastics, and equestrian sports.
Regulations on mouthguard use vary by sport and league. Football and hockey require them at many levels of play. Basketball and soccer often do not mandate them despite a meaningful dental injury risk. Regardless of whether a mouthguard is required by the sport’s rules, wearing one is always the smarter choice for protecting your teeth and jaw.
The process begins with dental impressions or a digital scan capturing the exact shape of your bite. These are sent to a dental laboratory where a mouthguard is fabricated from high-quality, impact-resistant material precisely over a model of your teeth. The result is an appliance that fits snugly and securely without any clenching required to hold it in place.
When the finished guard is returned from the lab, you come in for a delivery appointment where we check the fit, make any necessary minor adjustments, and ensure the guard feels comfortable and stays in place during activity. The entire process takes about two short appointments and provides superior fit, comfort, and protection compared to any over-the-counter alternative.
Rinse your mouthguard with cold water before and after each use. Brush it gently with a soft toothbrush and mild soap after use, then rinse thoroughly. Never use hot water, which can warp the material and alter the fit. Allow it to air dry completely before storing in the vented case provided, which prevents bacterial growth.
Keep the mouthguard away from direct sunlight and heat. Check it regularly for signs of wear, tears, or thinning, and replace it when the material becomes thin or the fit changes. Bring it to your dental appointments so we can assess its condition. A well-maintained custom mouthguard typically lasts one to three seasons depending on use intensity.
Absolutely—sports mouthguards are especially important for children. Dental injuries during childhood and adolescence can have lasting consequences, and damage to developing permanent teeth can require years of dental treatment. Since children’s teeth are still growing, custom mouthguards may need to be replaced more frequently as the bite changes.
Custom mouthguards for children can be fitted as young as age 6 when permanent front teeth begin to erupt. We take the changing dentition into account when fitting young athletes. The investment in a custom guard is well worth it for any child participating in contact or impact sports.
A properly fitted custom mouthguard should have minimal impact on breathing and speech. Because it is made precisely for the wearer’s teeth and does not require clenching to hold in place, athletes can breathe normally and communicate with teammates relatively clearly. This is a significant advantage over poorly fitting stock or boil-and-bite guards, which often require jaw clenching that restricts airflow and makes speech difficult.
Some adaptation in speech is normal during the first few days of wearing any mouthguard, but most athletes adjust quickly. If breathing or speech is significantly impaired, we can evaluate the design and make adjustments. A comfortable, well-fitted guard that athletes will actually wear consistently is far more valuable than a bulky guard that gets left on the bench.
Yes—mouthguards are particularly important for patients with braces. The metal brackets and wires can cause serious lacerations to the inside of the lips and cheeks if the face receives an impact. A properly designed mouthguard provides a protective barrier between the braces and soft tissues, significantly reducing the risk of oral lacerations.
Standard mouthguard designs need to be modified to accommodate braces—the guard must be flexible enough to account for tooth movement during treatment and spacious enough to cover the brackets without interfering with them. We have experience fitting mouthguards for patients in active orthodontic treatment and will ensure the appliance is designed appropriately.
Custom sports mouthguards generally last one to three seasons depending on frequency and intensity of use. Signs that a mouthguard needs replacing include visible thinning or wear, holes or tears, a loose or poor fit, persistent discoloration or unpleasant odor, or significant changes to the bite that leave the guard feeling different from when it was first made.
Children who are actively growing should have their mouthguard reassessed at each dental appointment, as changes in dentition can alter the fit. Bring your mouthguard to every dental checkup so we can evaluate its condition and recommend replacement when appropriate.
If a tooth is chipped or fractured, collect any fragments you can find, rinse the mouth with water, and apply a cold compress if there is swelling. Call our office as soon as possible—even if there is no pain, a fractured tooth needs professional evaluation. Depending on the size and location of the fracture, treatment may range from smoothing and bonding to a crown or root canal.
If a tooth is completely knocked out, treat it as a dental emergency. Handle only the crown, rinse it gently without scrubbing the root, and try to reinsert it into the socket immediately. If that is not possible, store it in milk or the athlete’s own saliva and seek dental care within 30 to 60 minutes. The sooner a knocked-out permanent tooth is reimplanted, the better the chance of saving it.
The relationship between mouthguards and concussion prevention is an area of ongoing research. Some studies suggest that properly fitted mouthguards may help cushion forces of impacts to the jaw, potentially reducing transmission to the skull. However, the evidence is not yet definitive, and mouthguards are not currently considered proven concussion-prevention devices.
What mouthguards unambiguously prevent is dental injury—knocked-out, fractured, and chipped teeth; lacerations to the lips and cheeks from impact against brackets or teeth; and jaw fractures. These injuries are well-documented and highly preventable with proper mouthguard use. Concussion prevention requires a multi-faceted approach including proper technique, rule adherence, and appropriate headgear where relevant.
At Cameron Park Dental Care, we take athletic dental protection seriously and provide custom mouthguards made from high-quality materials that offer genuine, meaningful protection. We fit athletes of all ages and can accommodate those with braces or other dental appliances. Our process is quick, comfortable, and the results are far superior to anything available over the counter.
Protecting your smile during sports is a smart, affordable step that can prevent significant dental injury and the cost, pain, and disruption that follows. Call us at (530) 676-0400 or schedule online to get your custom mouthguard and head into your next game with confidence.
