A mouthguard spends most of its life in a gear bag, a car or a coat pocket, and that is where many fit problems begin. We help you choose a guard suited to your child’s sport and growing teeth, then show you how to clean, store and check it so it keeps doing its job.
Ask most kids and the honest answer is somewhere damp: a glove, a cleat, the floor of the car. Summer sun through a windshield, a sweaty bag zipped shut for days and a habit of chewing on the bench can all change a guard’s shape well before the season ends.
Choosing the right guard is the first half of the job, and keeping it in good shape is the second. At a visit, we look at your child’s current guard and teeth together. Tell us about the activities they do, recent tooth changes, any previous injury to the mouth, and orthodontic plans.
Your child’s description of how it feels is often the earliest warning that something has shifted. A guard that suddenly seems loose or tight after a hot weekend is worth a look before the next game, especially when you are planning a trip in from Puslinch.
Teeth change, and so does the guard itself. A quick review before the season, and after any obvious damage, helps catch problems early.
Contact sports, falls and fast-moving equipment are where a guard earns its place, organised league or not. Talk through all your child’s activities, and ask how a guard fits with the helmet, face shield and rules for each.
Heat or chewing can distort a guard so that it slips, presses on the gums or needs clenching to stay in. Bring it in rather than trimming it, and encourage your child to tell you the moment it starts to feel different.
Even a guard in perfect condition can stop fitting when primary teeth are lost, permanent ones erupt or braces move teeth. Let the clinician know about orthodontic plans, and ask how often the fit should be reviewed.
After an impact to the mouth, an assessment may be needed even if the guard was in. It reduces risk but cannot confirm that no injury occurred.
A sports mouthguard that fits and is in good condition helps lower the risk of injury to teeth and the surrounding tissues. The Canadian Dental Association recommends families consider custom-fitted guards. A warped or chewed guard is less likely to stay in position, which limits what it can do.
It is worth being clear about the rest. A guard doesn’t replace a helmet, face protection, safe rules or medical assessment after a suspected head injury. It isn’t a concussion preventer, and nobody can promise it will stop every dental injury.
Patient information: Canadian Dental Association — preventing sports-related oral injuries
Packaging can only guess at age. In the chair, the clinician can see the teeth, the bite and any appliance, and judge the guard against them. Ask how fit is being assessed and what a good guard should feel like once it is in. Your child’s feedback helps settle it.
Practising in a calm setting lets your child learn to insert, remove, clean and store the guard properly. Ask questions there, when there is time. Discomfort is worth reporting rather than accepting.
Growth and everyday wear both affect fit. Ask which signs mean a recheck and bring the guard to routine visits. The aim is a guard in good condition that suits each stage, not one kept going long past its time.
Start before the season begins if you can. The timeline depends on the guard chosen, and an assessment does not mean a guard goes home with you that day.
We look at your child’s current guard and case, and ask about the sport, level, equipment, past injuries and orthodontic plans. If your child has trouble with things in the mouth, tell us so the visit can be adapted.
The clinician checks the teeth, bite, eruption and appliances, and explains how a custom guard compares with retail ones for your child. Ask about visits, cost and how often replacement may be needed before you choose.
If you go with custom, records of the teeth are taken by the method the clinician arranges. Mention gagging or sensory difficulties ahead of time. Ask when the guard will be ready and if a fitting is included.
At the fitting we check that it stays in and that your child can breathe and talk comfortably. They practise handling it, and we show you how to clean, dry and store it. Ask when the next review is due and what kinds of damage or tooth change should bring you in sooner.
Follow the care directions that come with your child’s guard. A parent may need to check the routine regularly until it sticks.
Rinse and clean the guard after use with products suitable for its material. Let it dry completely, then store it in a vented protective case rather than loose in the bag. Damp, closed spaces are not ideal.
Never leave it on the dashboard or in a parked car on a warm day, since heat can warp it. Discourage chewing between plays. Check for tears, thinning and sharp edges, and don’t share it or patch it with glue.
Pack it for every dental visit, and phone before then if it stops seating comfortably. A tooth arriving or leaving, a new filling, or an orthodontic adjustment can each alter the fit, no matter how new the guard is. Your child will often notice first.
Patient information: Fraser Health — choosing and caring for sports mouthguards
Parents ask about cleaning, storage, damage and when a guard needs replacing. A fit check is often the quickest way to an answer.
Contact our Bronte Street practice to arrange a mouthguard review for your child. Bring the guard and its case, a list of your child’s activities, and details of any braces or recent dental changes.
We talk through type, fit, how long fabrication takes and when a replacement is due for each child. If a tooth or the mouth is hurt, get it looked at, guard or no guard.
