Custom-Fit Mouthguards to Protect Young Athletes in Canton, Ohio

Why Sports Mouthguards Matter for Kids

A hard hit to the face during sports is one of the most common causes of the injuries we treat under dental trauma treatment, and much of it is preventable. A well-fitted mouthguard cushions impact, spreads out force, and keeps front teeth from taking the full brunt of a collision, elbow, or fall. For kids who play any contact or high-speed sport, it's one of the simplest pieces of equipment to add to a gym bag.

Injury Risk by Sport

Football, hockey, and boxing carry an obvious risk of facial contact, but plenty of dental injuries also happen in basketball, soccer, gymnastics, and even skateboarding, where falls and incidental contact are common. Any sport involving a ball moving at speed, close physical contact, or a hard surface deserves consideration for a mouthguard, even if it isn't officially classified as "high risk."

Custom vs. Boil-and-Bite vs. Stock Mouthguards

Stock mouthguards come pre-formed and are the least protective option, since they rarely fit well and can be uncomfortable enough that kids stop wearing them. Boil-and-bite guards, which are softened in hot water and bitten into shape, offer a better fit but still don't match the contours of an individual mouth precisely. A custom mouthguard, made from an impression or digital scan of your child's teeth, offers the best fit, comfort, and protection — and because it fits snugly, kids are far more likely to actually keep it in during play.

The Impression or Scan Appointment

Getting a custom mouthguard starts with a short appointment where we take either a traditional impression or a digital scan of your child's teeth, similar to the process used for other dental exams. This gives our lab an exact model of the mouth to work from, so the finished guard follows the shape of every tooth rather than a generic mold.

The Fitting Appointment

Once the mouthguard is fabricated, your child comes back for a fitting visit where we check for comfortable coverage, confirm it doesn't interfere with breathing or speaking, and make small adjustments if needed. A properly fitted guard should stay in place on its own without your child needing to clench to hold it there.

Mouthguards for Kids With Braces

Kids in orthodontic treatment or traditional braces need a mouthguard designed with extra room to accommodate brackets and wires, since a standard guard can trap the appliance against soft tissue during impact. We can fabricate guards specifically for orthodontic patients and will typically recommend refitting as the teeth continue to shift over the course of treatment.

Cleaning and Storing a Mouthguard

Rinse the mouthguard with cool water after every use and brush it gently with a toothbrush the same way you'd brush teeth, avoiding hot water, which can warp the material. Store it in a vented, rigid case rather than a pocket or gym bag, where it can pick up bacteria or get crushed. Never share a mouthguard between siblings or teammates, even briefly, since it's a direct path for spreading germs.

When to Replace a Growing Child's Mouthguard

Unlike an adult's mouthguard, a child's needs to be reassessed regularly because their mouth is still changing. As baby teeth fall out, permanent teeth erupt, or orthodontic treatment shifts tooth position, a once-perfect fit can loosen or become tight in the wrong places. We generally recommend checking the fit each sports season and replacing the guard whenever it no longer seats snugly, shows visible wear, or your child has had significant dental changes since it was made. The American Dental Association notes that a poorly fitting mouthguard offers meaningfully less protection, so it's worth checking rather than assuming last year's guard still fits.