Hockey season starts in the arena long before the bays freeze over. By the time the first skim of ice creeps out from the shore of Fairy Lake, the bags have been out of the basement for weeks, the ski hills are getting ready to open and someone is flooding a backyard rink by porch light. It’s a good season in Huntsville. It’s also a season when teeth take hits.
A mouthguard is one of the simplest pieces of equipment in the bag, and one of the easiest to forget. Here’s what to know before the first puck drops.
Why mouthguards matter
Contact and collision sports are a common cause of dental injuries, especially for children and teens. A stick, a puck, an elbow or a fall onto the ice can chip, crack, loosen or knock out a tooth, and cut the lips, cheeks and tongue. A well-fitted mouthguard cushions the blow, spreads the force and keeps the upper and lower teeth from snapping together.
A full cage or visor protects the face from sticks and pucks, but a hit to the chin can still drive the lower teeth into the upper ones. A mouthguard adds protection a cage can’t. The same goes for the ski hill and the terrain park, where a fall or a collision can do just as much damage, so it’s worth packing one for snowboarding and freestyle skiing too. Check your league’s equipment rules as well, since requirements vary.
A note on concussions: you may see mouthguards described as concussion protection. Research on this is still mixed, and mouthguards are not proven to prevent concussions. Wear one to protect your teeth and mouth, and treat any suspected concussion seriously: off the ice and assessed by a physician before returning to play.
Three kinds of mouthguards
Stock
Pre-formed and ready to wear straight from the package.
- Pros: inexpensive, easy to find and handy as a spare in the bag.
- Cons: a loose, bulky fit that often has to be held in by clenching. They can make breathing and talking harder, so players tend to take them out.
Boil-and-bite
Softened in hot water, then shaped by biting into it. Sold at sports stores and pharmacies.
- Pros: a closer fit than stock, affordable and easy to replace as kids grow.
- Cons: the fit depends on how well it’s moulded, and it can end up thin in spots if it’s bitten too hard. Follow the package directions closely, and remould or replace it if it starts to feel loose.
Custom-fitted
Made by a dental team from an impression or model of your teeth.
- Pros: the closest fit. It stays in place without clenching and is generally more comfortable to talk and breathe in, which means it’s more likely to stay in for the whole game.
- Cons: it costs more, takes a dental visit and some time to make, and growing kids will need a new one as their teeth and jaws change.
Any properly fitted mouthguard is better than none. The one that protects is the one that’s actually in your mouth. If you’d like to talk about a custom-fitted guard, see our sports guards page or ask at your next visit.
Wearing braces?
Braces make a mouthguard more important, not less. A hit can press the lips and cheeks into the brackets and cause painful cuts, and it can damage the brackets and wires. Ask your orthodontist or dentist which guard to use; some are designed to fit over braces. A standard boil-and-bite guard moulded tightly around brackets can be hard to remove and will stop fitting as your teeth move.
Care and replacement
- Rinse it with cool water before and after each use, and brush it gently with a soft toothbrush.
- Store it in a vented, hard case and let it dry between uses. Wash the case, too.
- Keep it away from heat. Hot water and a sunny dashboard can warp it out of shape.
- Don’t chew on it, and don’t share it.
- Bring it along to your dental check-ups so we can look at the fit.
- Replace it when it’s torn, thin or loose. For growing kids, plan on a new one at least every season, and whenever baby teeth are lost or new adult teeth come in.
Before the first puck drops
Pull the mouthguard out of last year’s bag and have a look. If it’s chewed, cracked or no longer fits, now is the time to replace it, not the night before a tournament. If you’d like a check-up or want to ask about a custom-fitted guard, you can request an appointment online or call us at (705) 788-9229.
If a tooth does get knocked out at the rink, our emergency dentistry page explains what to do next.
Quick answers
Do mouthguards prevent concussions?
Mouthguards are not proven to prevent concussions. They help protect the teeth, lips, cheeks, tongue and jaw from injury. Any suspected concussion should be taken seriously and assessed by a physician before returning to play.
What’s the difference between a custom-fitted and a boil-and-bite mouthguard?
A boil-and-bite guard is softened in hot water and shaped by biting into it at home. A custom-fitted guard is made by a dental team from a model of your teeth, so it fits more closely and tends to stay in place more comfortably. Any properly fitted mouthguard is better than none.
How often should a child’s mouthguard be replaced?
Replace it when it’s torn, thin or loose, at least every season, and whenever baby teeth are lost or new adult teeth come in, because the fit changes as the mouth grows.
This article is general information, not a diagnosis. For advice about your own teeth, call us at (705) 788-9229.
