What Is a Sports Guard?
A sports guard is a mouth guard you wear during sport. It protects your teeth and gums and also guards your lips, cheeks and jaw. Most cover the upper teeth because those teeth sit furthest forward and take the brunt of a hit.
A custom sports guard is shaped to your own teeth and stays put during play.
A sports guard is not a night guard. A night guard protects teeth from grinding during sleep.
Who Should Wear a Sports Guard?
Anyone whose sport puts the mouth in the way of a fall, a hit or a flying object, at any age. The CDA names baseball, hockey, soccer, football, rugby and basketball as sports with a higher risk of facial injury.
A sports guard is recommended for:
- ✓Hockey
- ✓Soccer
- ✓Martial arts
- ✓Lacrosse
- ✓Wrestling
- ✓Skateboarding
- ✓Gymnastics
- ✓Any sport with falls, contact or flying objects
Non-contact sports carry a risk too, since a fall in gymnastics or on skates can break a tooth.
Wear the sports guard at every practice and every game.
Custom Sports Guard vs Store-Bought Mouth Guard
A custom sports guard is made from an impression or scan of your teeth. It fits closely and stays put. Store-bought guards are shaped for everyone, so they fit no one exactly.
Fit is a safety point, since a loose guard slips out of place. The CDA advises a custom mouth guard because a comfortable guard stays in position.
A custom guard also gives easier breathing and speaking, and children and teens are more willing to keep it in.
There are three kinds of sports mouthguard: stock, boil-and-bite and custom.
If a custom guard is not ready for the first practice, wear a store-bought guard that fits well and is not damaged until it is.
- ✓Better fit
- ✓Better comfort
- ✓More stable protection
- ✓Less bulk
- ✓Easier breathing
- ✓Easier speaking
- ✓Better compliance for children and teens
Sports Guards for Children and Teens
Children and teens need sports guards as much as adults do. Teeth and jaws are still growing, so a guard that fit in September may not fit by spring.
Parents should bring the guard to each dental visit so the team can check the fit. For checkups as your child grows, see children's dentistry.
Yes, and braces make a guard more important. A blow to the face can damage brackets and wires and cut your lips and cheeks against them. The CDA recommends a custom-fit mouthguard for anyone in orthodontic treatment.
Teeth move during treatment, so the guard has to make room for that movement and its fit needs checking. Your dentist may suggest a guard for the lower teeth too.
Take out a retainer or other removable appliance before contact sport. Read more about metal braces.
What Happens During a Sports Guard Appointment?
Dental Check
The dentist checks your teeth, bite and gums and notes any dental work that needs protection.
Impression or Scan
A scan or impression is taken and the guard is made from it.
Guard Fabrication
The sports guard is made from the records taken at the appointment.
Fit Check
The guard is checked for comfort, stability and ease of use.
Care Instructions
You receive guidance on cleaning, storage and when to replace the guard.
How to Care for a Sports Guard
Rinse it, let it dry and keep it in a vented case away from heat. Heat warps a guard and a warped guard no longer fits.
- ✓Rinse your sports guard before and after each use
- ✓Wash it now and then in cool, soapy water
- ✓Do not leave it in a hot car, in the sun or in hot water
- ✓Keep it away from pets, who treat it as a chew toy
- ✓Do not chew on it
- ✓Replace it if it is loose, cracked, worn or too tight
A damaged sports guard may not protect properly.
Cleveland Clinic puts the life of a custom-made guard at several years if you look after it. A growing child outgrows a guard sooner.
Replace any sports guard as soon as it shows wear, damage or a poor fit. The American Dental Association gives the same advice.
Cost and Coverage Information
Expect about $230 to $380 for a custom sports guard from an Ontario dental office, before any coverage. We took that range from Ontario clinic price pages and a Canadian price guide. It is not our fee.
The estimate our team explains before treatment is the number to plan around.
Private dental plans differ on sports guards. Some pay part of the cost. Bring your plan details to your visit and our team will go over the expected cost with you first.
CDCP pays nothing toward a sports guard. The plan's Dental Benefits Guide puts mouth guards on its list of exclusions. Our CDCP page explains what the plan does pay for.
Related Services
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a sports guard?+
A sports guard is a mouth guard worn during sport. It protects the teeth and the soft tissue around them from injury.
Who needs a sports guard?+
Anyone whose sport involves contact, falls or flying objects. Children and adults alike.
Is a custom sports guard better than a store-bought guard?+
For fit and comfort, yes. The Canadian Dental Association advises a custom guard over an over-the-counter one.
Can kids wear custom sports guards?+
Yes. Children and teens can wear custom sports guards. Check the fit at each dental visit, because a growing mouth outgrows a guard.
Does CDCP cover sports guards?+
No. Mouth guards are on the exclusion list of the Canadian Dental Care Plan. A private dental plan may pay part.
Book a Custom Sports Guard in Grimsby
Need a custom sports guard for hockey, basketball, soccer, martial arts or another sport? Book a sports guard appointment at Grimsby Lake Dental. Book well before the season starts.