Why Choose Custom Dental Mouthguards Over Boil & Bite Mouthguards?
When preparing for your next sporting season, you’ve probably come across multiple different mouthguards. Although they are all designed to do the same job, they are not all made the same. Boil and bite mouthguards in particular are extremely popular due to their low cost and the ability to fit them yourselves. In this article, we’ll compare a boil and bite mouthguard to a custom mouthguard fitted by a dentist.
Why is a Mouthguard Important?
Firstly, you need to understand why mouthguards are important. Mouthguards are mainly used for playing sport but they can also be recommended by dentists to treat bruxism and sleep apnoea. If you play sport, even casually, you know how important a properly fitted mouthguard really is. It’s true that wearing any type of mouthguard during sport is better than none at all. But if mouthguards are not professionally fitted and comfortable, people are more likely to take them out during a game, fiddle, or play with them, or they could fall out and not be of any real benefit.
The risk of injuries from not wearing mouthguards includes cut lips, gums, or cheeks, cuts to the tongue, chipped or broken teeth, teeth getting knocked out, or even a broken jaw.
What Sports Require a Mouthguard?
A mouthguard should be worn for all sports, especially contact sports such as boxing, football, soccer, and hockey. Most sporting clubs also make it mandatory to wear a mouthguard.
What is a Boil and Bite Mouthguard?
Boil and bite mouthguards are often made from medical-grade plastic or silicon. As the name suggests, to mold a boil and bite mouthguard all you need to do is place it in boiling water. Then once the plastic is soft, place it in your mouth and bite down to fit it to your teeth.
What is a Custom Fitted Mouthguard?
A custom fitted dental mouthguard works by absorbing the impact of a collision or blow, and is custom made from an impression of your own teeth and jaw. To have these fitted you’ll need to visit a dentist who specialises in this service.
A good protective mouthguard must…
be comfortable yet tight-fitting
allow normal breathing and swallowing
allow normal speech
not cause gagging
be odourless and tasteless
be thick enough (4 mm) to provide protection against impact.
Main Differences Between Boil and Bite Mouthguards and Custom Mouthguards
Although both claim to keep your teeth protected from dental injuries, there are a few key differences to note.
How They’re Molded
You can fit a boil and bite mouthguard by first placing it in a pot of boiling water to soften the material. Once it is soft, you place the mouthguard in your mouth and bite down to mold your teeth into it. A custom mouthguard is fitted by a dentist. The dentist uses putty on a tray to take an impression of your teeth. Once your dentist has the mold, the mouthguard is made onto a plaster cast produced from the impression or mold. You’ll usually wait less than a week to pick your new custom mouthguard up.
Fit
The main benefit of a custom mouthguard made by a dentist is that you can be assured that it’s going to fit perfectly. Everyone’s teeth are different therefore, you shouldn’t apply a one-size-fits-all approach. Boil and bite mouthguards typically only come in one available size and shape, which means there’s a chance it could be too loose fitting for your mouth. A mouthguard that isn't the right size could cause discomfort and provide inadequate protection.
Price
The cheap price is often what lures people into buying a boil and bite mouthguard. A lot of work goes into a custom fitting a mouthguard therefore, you can expect the cost to be much higher than a store bought boil and bite mouthguard, but also partially covered by your health fund. However, when it comes to the health of your teeth, cheapest isn’t always best.
Durability
A boil and bite mouthguard will need replacing a lot more often than a custom mouthguard. You’ll likely need to replace it at least once a season. Custom mouthguards on the other hand are built to last a couple of seasons. However, there are exceptions. Children’s mouthguards will likely need to be replaced more often as their teeth grow and develop.
What is the Best Mouthguard?
For us, it’s an obvious choice. You can’t go wrong with a custom mouthguard fitted by a dentist. Plus, they're not that expensive once you break down the benefits. Unless your teeth change, a custom mouthguard will last a few seasons without any problems. You only have one set of teeth, if you injure them playing sports, replacing them with major dental procedures can be costly. Tooth damage is one of the most common sports related injuries, and it needs to be taken seriously.
AFL Strongly Recommends Dentally Fitted Mouthguards
Did you know that the AFL strongly recommends the use of custom fitted dental mouthguards? As part of the AFL’s Health & Fitness recommendations, on the topic of mouthguards, they actively discourage the use of ‘boil and bite’ mouthguards as a potential choking hazard.
Mouthguards have a definite role in preventing injuries to the teeth and face and for this reason, they are strongly recommended at all levels of football.
Dentally fitted laminated mouthguards offer the best protection. ‘Boil and bite’ type mouthguards are not recommended for any level of play as they can dislodge during play and block the airway.
Since custom fitted mouthguards fit your teeth exactly, you can talk normally and your breathing isn’t restricted. They also stay firmly in place, letting you focus on playing your favourite sport. A dental fitted mouthguard should be a compulsory part of your sporting kit, regardless of your age or experience, whether you’re an amateur or a pro.
ADA Mandatory Mouthguard Policy
If you’re a sporting club that is wanting to implement a mouthguard policy, download the ADA mandatory mouthguard policy endorsed by both the ADA and Sports Medicine Australia (SMA).
Looking For a Custom Mouthguard? Chat to Us!
The team at Cambridge City Dental offers general dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, and restorative dentistry services to Perth and surrounds. If you’re in need of a new custom fitted mouthguard, we’re here to help. Book your appointment online or call our team on 9382 8266.