Sports Mouthguards

A sports mouthguard is a protective dental appliance worn during contact, collision, or impact-related activities to reduce the risk and severity of selected injuries to the teeth and oral tissues. A custom mouthguard is made from the patient’s dental records and designed according to the teeth, bite, age, sport, braces, and expected level of impact.

At Bourgeois Dental Clinic in Dubai, mouthguard suitability is assessed according to the patient’s sport, frequency of participation, previous dental injuries, tooth development, orthodontic appliances, restorations, dental implants, missing teeth, breathing requirements, and ability to wear and maintain the appliance safely.

Who May Benefit From a Sports Mouthguard?

A mouthguard may be considered for patients participating in:

• Football
• Basketball
• Rugby
• Boxing and martial arts
• Hockey
• Skateboarding
• Cycling and BMX activities
• Gymnastics
• Combat or contact training
• Other sports involving falls, collisions, equipment, or facial impact

The need for protection depends on the activity and individual injury risk rather than whether the sport is formally classified as a contact sport.

What Injuries May a Mouthguard Help Reduce?

A suitable mouthguard may help reduce the risk or severity of:

• Chipped or fractured teeth
• Displaced teeth
• Knocked-out teeth
• Cuts to the lips, cheeks, or tongue
• Damage to dental restorations
• Injury around orthodontic brackets
• Selected injuries to supporting dental tissues

No mouthguard can prevent every dental, facial, jaw, head, or neurological injury.

What Happens During the Assessment?

1. Dental examination: Checking cavities, loose teeth, gum health, tooth development, restorations, implants, and dental injuries.
2. Sport review: Discussing the activity, position, equipment, training frequency, and expected impact level.
3. Orthodontic review: Assessing braces, retainers, aligners, tooth movement, and available space for the appliance.
4. Bite assessment: Reviewing tooth contacts and jaw position.
5. Dental records: Taking a digital scan or dental impression when a custom guard is appropriate.
6. Design planning: Selecting coverage, thickness, retention, material, and space according to the patient’s needs.
7. Fitting: Checking stability, comfort, borders, speech, breathing, and bite.

Why Choose a Custom Sports Mouthguard?

A custom guard is made to fit the patient’s teeth and may provide:

• Improved retention
• More controlled coverage
• Less unwanted movement
• Better adaptation around braces or restorations
• More predictable material thickness
• Improved comfort during speaking and breathing

The final result depends on the dental condition, growth, appliance design, sport, and patient use.

What Is the Difference Between Custom and Over-the-Counter Mouthguards?

• Custom mouthguard: Made from the patient’s dental records and adjusted for fit, bite, and comfort.
• Boil-and-bite mouthguard: Softened and shaped by the user, with variable fit and thickness.
• Stock mouthguard: Preformed and available in standard sizes, with limited adaptation.

Over-the-counter products may provide some protection when properly fitted, but poor retention, excessive bulk, thinning during shaping, or uncontrolled tooth contacts may reduce comfort or protection.

Can Patients With Braces Wear a Sports Mouthguard?

Yes. A mouthguard may be designed to allow space for brackets, wires, and expected tooth movement.

Patients with braces should:

• Avoid appliances that press heavily against brackets
• Check the guard frequently as the teeth move
• Replace it when fit becomes unsuitable
• Contact the orthodontic provider after appliance damage
• Follow sport-specific recommendations

A guard made before significant orthodontic movement may no longer fit later in treatment.

Can Clear Aligners Be Worn Under a Sports Mouthguard?

This depends on the aligner system, sport, mouthguard design, and instructions from the treating dentist or orthodontic provider.

A sports mouthguard should not be forced over aligners or attachments when the fit is uncertain. Individual guidance is required.

Can a Mouthguard Protect Crowns, Veneers, or Implants?

A custom appliance may help reduce direct impact to selected restorations, but protection is not complete.

The design should account for:

• Crown and veneer margins
• Implant restorations
• Bridges
• Missing teeth
• Recent dental treatment
• Restoration stability
• Areas that require reduced pressure

Is a Sports Mouthguard the Same as a Night Guard?

No. A sports mouthguard is designed for impact protection during athletic activity. A night guard or occlusal splint is designed for grinding, clenching, restoration protection, or selected bite-related purposes.

The appliances use different designs and should not automatically be used interchangeably.

How Should a Sports Mouthguard Fit?

A suitable mouthguard should:

• Remain stable without constant biting
• Cover the intended teeth and gum areas
• Avoid sharp or irritating edges
• Allow reasonable breathing and speech
• Not create severe pressure on teeth or gums
• Not interfere significantly with the bite after removal

A loose guard may create a swallowing risk or provide limited protection.

How Is a Sports Mouthguard Cleaned?

• Rinse it after use
• Brush gently with a suitable soft brush
• Use cleaning products compatible with the material
• Avoid hot water
• Allow it to dry according to instructions
• Store it in a ventilated protective case
• Keep it away from pets and direct heat
• Clean the teeth before wearing it
• Bring it to dental appointments for inspection

How Long Does a Sports Mouthguard Last?

The replacement interval depends on:

• Age and growth
• Tooth eruption or movement
• Orthodontic treatment
• Frequency and intensity of use
• Chewing damage
• Material wear
• Changes after fillings, crowns, or other dental treatment
• Storage and cleaning

Children, teenagers, and orthodontic patients may require more frequent replacement because the teeth and jaws are changing.

When Should the Mouthguard Be Replaced?

• It no longer fits securely
• It has cracks, tears, or holes
• It has become thin in important areas
• It causes pain or gum injury
• Dental treatment has changed the tooth shape
• Braces or tooth movement have altered the fit
• It develops persistent odour despite cleaning
• It becomes loose enough to create a swallowing risk

What Should Be Done After a Dental Sports Injury?

A mouthguard does not remove the need for assessment after trauma. Arrange prompt dental care for:

• A fractured tooth
• A displaced or knocked-out tooth
• Bleeding that does not stop
• A loose tooth
• Severe dental pain
• A damaged crown, bridge, implant restoration, or orthodontic appliance
• A cut requiring medical attention
• A bite that feels different after impact

A knocked-out permanent tooth is time-sensitive. Handle it by the crown rather than the root, avoid scrubbing it, and seek urgent dental care.

What Are the Risks and Limitations?

• No protection against every injury
• Fit may change with growth or dental treatment
• The guard may wear, tear, or become loose
• Poorly fitted appliances may affect comfort or breathing
• Incorrect cleaning may damage the material
• A damaged component may create a swallowing risk
• Regular inspection and replacement may be necessary
• Head or facial injuries still require appropriate medical assessment

When Is Emergency Medical Care Needed?

Seek urgent medical care for loss of consciousness, repeated vomiting, confusion, severe headache, breathing difficulty, major facial injury, uncontrolled bleeding, suspected jaw fracture, neurological symptoms, or significant deterioration after impact.

Sports Mouthguards on Sheikh Zayed Road

Bourgeois Dental Clinic is located on the first floor of Indigo Sky Building, Sheikh Zayed Road, Exit 41, near Al Thanya Street in Dubai. The clinic is accessible from Al Barsha, Umm Al Sheif, Umm Suqeim, Jumeirah, Al Quoz, Barsha Heights, The Greens, Dubai Marina, and nearby communities.

Book a sports-mouthguard assessment for contact sports, braces, dental restorations, previous dental injuries, or personalised protection during athletic activities.