Protect the Smile, Not Just the Shins
Do your kids need a mouthguard for summer sport? If they play a contact or fast-moving sport — rugby, hockey, football, cricket, netball, basketball or martial arts — then yes. A custom-fitted mouthguard prevents most sports dental injuries, and it matters most for children and teenagers whose front teeth are still developing.
As the summer sports season gets going, mouthguards are the bit of kit everyone forgets — until a stray elbow, a cricket ball or a clash of heads turns a fun match into a dental emergency. A knocked-out or broken front tooth isn't a one-off fix; it can mean a lifetime of repairs, replacements and cost. A mouthguard is a small, comfortable bit of protection that prevents most of it.
Who really needs a sports mouthguard?
Anyone playing contact or fast-moving sport: rugby, hockey, football, cricket, basketball, netball, boxing and martial arts all carry a genuine risk of a blow to the face. It matters even more for children and teenagers, whose front teeth are still developing and whose sporting calendars are often the busiest of all. If your child plays a club sport, a mouthguard should be as automatic as their shin pads.
Which sports carry the most risk to teeth?
The highest-risk sports combine speed, hard equipment and close contact. Rugby, hockey (sticks and a hard ball), boxing and martial arts, basketball and netball (elbows and stray passes), football (heads and boots), cricket (a very hard ball) and skateboarding or BMX all send players to us with chipped, loosened or knocked-out teeth. The rule of thumb: if a sport involves a stick, a ball, a fist or a fast-moving body, the front teeth are exposed — and a guard is worth it.
Why is a custom mouthguard better than a boil-and-bite one?
The shop-bought, mould-it-yourself versions are better than nothing — but they're bulky, they work loose, and they make breathing and talking awkward. So they end up at the bottom of the kit bag, which protects nobody.
A custom mouthguard, made from a digital scan or impression of your teeth, is a completely different experience:
- It fits precisely, so it stays put even during heavy contact.
- It's slimmer and more comfortable, so players actually keep it in.
- It allows easier breathing and speech, which matters in a real match.
- It offers far better shock absorption, cushioning the teeth and jaw and softening a knock that travels through the bite.
In other words, the protection only works if it's worn — and people wear the one that fits.
Can you wear a mouthguard with braces?
Yes — and if your child has braces, a mouthguard matters even more. A blow to the mouth can drive the lips and cheeks into fixed braces brackets, causing painful cuts on top of any tooth damage. We make custom guards designed to fit comfortably over fixed braces and to allow for the way teeth move during treatment, so protection continues throughout the months in braces. Off-the-shelf guards rarely fit over brackets properly, which is exactly when players stop wearing them.
How is a custom mouthguard made?
It takes one short appointment to scan or take an impression of your teeth. We'll have your guard ready shortly after, in your choice of colour if you fancy something to match the team kit. For growing children, we'll check the fit periodically as their teeth and jaw develop.
How much does a custom mouthguard cost?
A custom sports mouthguard is a one-off cost that's a small fraction of what it takes to repair serious dental trauma — a knocked-out front tooth can mean root canal treatment, a crown, and eventually an implant, repeated over a lifetime. The price depends on the type of guard and whether it's for a child or an adult, so ask us for a current quote and we'll talk you through the options. Set against the cost — and the upset — of a dental emergency, it's one of the best-value things you can buy for a young athlete.
How long does a mouthguard last?
For adults, a well-made guard typically lasts a couple of seasons — replace it when it feels loose, thin or chewed through. For children and teenagers it's different: as the jaw grows and adult teeth come through, the fit changes quickly, so a guard often needs remaking each year or at the start of a new season. Bring it to check-ups and we'll tell you when it's time for a new one.
Do mouthguards help prevent concussion?
A mouthguard's main job is to protect the teeth, lips and jaw, and it does that very well. There's some evidence that, by cushioning a blow to the chin, it may reduce the forces passed up to the head — but it isn't a guaranteed defence against concussion and shouldn't replace the head protection a sport requires. What's certain is that it dramatically lowers the risk of dental injury, which is reason enough to wear one.
How do you look after a mouthguard?
Rinse it after every use, give it an occasional clean with a toothbrush and cool (never hot) water, and store it in its ventilated case — not loose in a sweaty bag. Bring it along to check-ups so we can make sure it's still doing its job.
What should I do if a tooth gets knocked out?
If a tooth has been chipped, loosened or knocked out, see us as soon as possible — for a knocked-out adult tooth, the first 30–60 minutes really count. Keep the tooth moist in milk, handle it by the crown not the root, and call us straight away. Don't scrub or clean it, and never try to reinsert a baby (milk) tooth.
Heading into a busy sporting summer? Book online or give us a call, and we'll get the whole family protected before the season gets serious.
