Sports Mouth Guards

Dentist sports mouth guards, also commonly referred to as mouth guards or mouth protectors, are simple devices made with rubber that fit over the top row of teeth to protect your mouth from injury during any direct blows or collisions that may occur whilst playing sports.

Sports mouth guards are a critical piece of equipment for any athlete participating in a sport that involves direct body contact, fast-moving equipment, falls, trips or collisions.

Unfortunately, mouth guards for sports are often overlooked. Although mouth guards for boxing and other combat sports are enforced, when it comes to a rugby mouth guard or a football mouth guard, coaches, referees, and players are far less likely to consider sports mouth guards as necessary, despite the high risk of contact and collision.

Why is a sports mouth guard important?

Every year, many athletes (both adults and children) are treated for dental injuries that could have been avoided, prevented or minimised by simply wearing a mouth guard.

As a dental clinic that is experienced in dealing with dental trauma caused by sports injuries, The Park Practice Glasgow strongly recommends the use of a "custom sports mouth guard" over a "boil & bite mouth guard" in any sport or activity where collision (intended or accidental) is likely to occur.

This is relevant for both games and training, as you never know when a serious collision can happen. In our expert experience, it’s always best to be prepared, and wearing a robust sports mouth guard is one of the best ways to protect your mouth and teeth from any potential damage.

Often injuries in sports or other physical activities that do occur are those we didn’t foresee or even consider a danger. A head-on collision when going for the same ball or an unlikely crash against a goal post could cause significant dental trauma to the mouth and teeth. In some cases, these issues can stay with you throughout the rest of your life, and your teeth may never fully recover. For this reason, it’s always best to ‘play it safe’ and wear a sports mouth guard to protect your teeth.

What do mouth guards protect?

Wearing a mouth guard is essential for anyone engaged in high-impact sports, as they shield the teeth, gums, and soft tissues from injury. Here’s how they protect you from severe injury:

Teeth protection: A sports mouth guard absorbs and disperses force, which reduces the risk of broken, chipped, or knocked-out teeth in the event of a collision or fall.
Gum and soft tissue safety: By protecting the upper teeth and gums, sports mouth guards prevent lacerations, bruising, and cuts to the lips, cheeks, and tongue.
Jaw stability: Mouth guards support the jaw and reduces the risk of fractures and dislocations. They can even help prevent concussions, as they provide a layer of shock absorption during impact.
Braces and dental work protection: For athletes with braces, implants, or bridges, a sports mouth guard offers an added layer of defence against impact. This way, they can protect these investments and prevent emergency dental visits.

Who needs a sports mouth guard?

Mouth guards are commonly associated with high-contact sports like boxing, where protection is crucial. However, these protective devices shouldn’t be limited tooth's type of sport alone. In fact, proper use of a mouth guard should be enforced across a wide range of activities to protect athletes of all ages from preventable dental injuries.

Athletes in contact sports: Those who play rugby, football, hockey, or martial arts face higher risks of impact to the mouth and should always wear a mouth guard to protect against serious injury.
Participants in high-speed or high-risk activities: Cyclists, skateboarders, and mountain bikers are also vulnerable to falls or collisions, and using a mouth guard can be an important precaution in these sports.
Younger athletes: Children and teens engaged in sports are at greater risk of dental injuries. A custom-fitted mouth guard offers them the best protection during growth stages, which lowers dental damage and costly repairs.

The simple but effective precaution of wearing a custom sports mouth guard could save you a great deal of pain and trouble down the road. Remember, you are at just as much risk during training as during the game!

What damage can happen without a sports mouth guard?

Dental trauma from sporting injury can include damage to the tooth nerve, fractured, cracked, or knocked-out teeth, a broken jaw, damage to the tongue and burst/cut lips. It is not uncommon that a single case of dental trauma can lead to a lifetime of dental treatment. This is necessary to maintain the strength and health of the damaged tooth/teeth.

A damaged tooth will often become a lifelong problem as repair work does not last forever. Hence our mantra is "Prevention is always better than the cure, so play it safe and wear a sports mouth guard”.

Sporting heroes that choose sports mouth guards

We have some fantastic role models who wear custom dental sports mouth guards to help protect their teeth whilst playing professional sports, and The Park Practice have been lucky enough to work closely with several Scottish sports teams.

As an Official Partner with Glasgow Warriors, The Park Practice was honoured to have made the whole rugby squad new sports mouth guards, providing full protection from any collisions that are bound to occur in a full-contact sport such as Rugby. Professional rugby players need new rugby mouth guards every season to ensure they are 100% effective for every one of their many fixtures.

Kieron Achara, one of Scotland's greatest ever basketball players, has worn a dental mouth guard for several years now. Through his positive lead, The Park Practice has now made custom mouth guards for the whole Glasgow Rocks roster. As the first team in the British Basketball League to wear mouthguards, the Glasgow Rocks now enjoy full protection against accidental facial contact or head-on collisions. Let’s face it, no one, not even professional athletes, wants a basketball to the face without protection! If these lads are wearing them, don’t you think you should consider it too?

For more information on our custom dental mouth guards, get in touch with our sports dentistry team today.

Kieron Achara

Custom sports mouth guard in Glasgow

A mouth guard provided by an experienced sports mouth guard dentist such as The Park Practice can be tailored specifically to fit the shape of your mouth. These custom mouth guards offer superior protection to your face, teeth, jaw and gums and come with the added benefit of being more comfortable than a standard-fitted sports mouth guard.

Our dental practice uses FDA approved material to help prevent concussion and dental trauma, whilst allowing for easy, natural breathing whilst training or playing sports.

Custom mouth guards procedure: What to expect?

If you're interested in getting yourself a custom mouth guard, then The Park Practice is on-hand to help you. Our process is simple, robust and effective. Our team is extremely experienced in working with sports mouth guards and sports dentistry, so you can rest assured that you’ll be in safe hands.

Your Park Practice dentist will take an impression and create a plaster model of your teeth. The model will be used to accurately assess your mouth and design a uniquely fitted custom mouth guard specifically for you.
Once fitted, we will provide guidance and advice on how you should care for the mouthguard properly.

If your mouth guard is ever damaged during collision or contact, the custom mouth guard may need to be replaced if the quality of the fit has been affected. If you have new teeth since your mouthguard was first fitted, then again it may need to be replaced.

For these reasons, we always ask you to make sure you have your custom mouth guard with you when attending regular check-ups. In this way, we can keep your sports mouth guard in top condition and ensure long-lasting protection for your teeth and mouth no matter what may happen out on the field.

FAQs on dental sports mouth guard

How to make a gum shield fit?

At Park Practice, we accurately assess your mouth to ensure gum shield properly fits. In case the custom fitted mouth guard doesn't feel comfortable when worn, please don't hesitate to reach out to our team.

How should a gum shield fit?

A gum shield should feel snug but comfortable, sitting firmly over your teeth without needing to be held in place by biting. It should cover the teeth and gums properly so you can still breathe and speak easily while remaining secure during activities.

How does a mouth guard protect teeth?

Think of mouth guard as a cushion that will absorb the impact of blows or falls that could otherwise lead to chipped, broken, or knocked-out teeth. By distributing the force across the mouth, it protects not only the teeth but also the gums, jaw, and soft tissues.

How does a mouthguard work in boxing?

In boxing, a mouthguard provides a layer of shock absorption to shield the teeth and gums from powerful punches. It disperses the impact force and reduces the risk of fractured teeth, cut lips, and other mouth injuries.

How does a gum shield work?

A gum shield functions as a barrier to protect the teeth and surrounding areas. When an impact occurs, the shield distributes the force across the mouth, which minimises injury risk. It also helps prevent teeth grinding and other stress-related effects that might otherwise damage the enamel.

Does a mouth guard protect teeth?

Yes, a mouth guard is specifically designed to protect teeth during physical activities. By absorbing and dispersing impact, it shields teeth from breakage, chipping, and displacement, preserving both dental health and appearance. It’s an essential tool for anyone engaging in sports or activities with risk of facial contact.

Protect your oral health with a custom sports mouthguard

Ready to safeguard your teeth during every game or training session? Park Practice offers professionally fitted mouthguard, tailored to provide the best protection and comfort for your specific needs.

To get your custom mouth guard fitted, get in touch with us today. We’d be happy to answer any questions you may have.