Custom Mouthguards Brighton
Protect your jaw and teeth while you sleep or play sports.
Custom mouthguards are a good option for those looking to protect their teeth, and can be used for sports or other applications such as for protection during sleep against teeth grinding.
A well-fitted, custom made mouthguard can protect your teeth and jaw by limiting the impact from contact and reducing the risk of damage to your teeth. Without one, sportspeople run the risk of damaging, chipping, breaking, or even knocking out their teeth, which can be a painful and costly problem to fix.
What is a custom mouthguard?
A custom mouth guard is a thick piece of plastic that sits snugly around your teeth, protecting them from damage.
There are mouthguards that you can buy ‘off the shelf’ at pharmacies and sports stores. However, these are not made specifically for your teeth and are, therefore, usually not a very good fit. While they will offer more protection than nothing, they are not the gold standard when it comes to mouthguards.
Mouthguards are also sometimes used for other applications, such as for those who grind their teeth in their sleep (bruxism). This common issue can wear away teeth over time, so a mouthguard will help to prevent that damage.
Why wear a mouthguard
Wearing a mouthguard is one of the easiest ways to protect your teeth from damage. For sports, a custom-fitted mouthguard cushions against knocks, falls, or collisions, helping to prevent chipped, broken, or knocked-out teeth, as well as injuries to the lips and jaw.
The advantages of a custom-fitted mouthguard
Custom mouthguards are extremely useful for keeping your teeth and gums in good condition, even when playing contact sports.
Minimises and avoids damage: Custom-made mouthguards are the gold standard in minimising and avoiding damage from sports-related injuries, as their tight fit ensures teeth have a good layer of protection and that they can’t move during an impact.
Comfortable wear: When a mouthguard is made specifically for your mouth, it is more comfortable to wear, and makes it easier to breathe than a non-custom mouthguard.
Avoids costly, painful repairs: From chipped and broken teeth to knocked out teeth that require emergency dental treatment, a custom mouthguard can help to avoid the pain and trauma as well as the cost of getting these issues fixed.
The different types of mouthguards
When choosing a mouthguard, there are several options available, each with varying levels of fit, comfort, and protection:
- Stock Mouthguards: Pre-made and ready to wear, these are a convenient option found in most sports or pharmacy stores. However, they often provide only basic protection and lack a personalized fit.
- Boil-and-Bite Mouthguards: These offer better customization. You soften the mouthguard in hot water and bite into it to mould it to your teeth. While an improvement over stock options, they still fall short of providing the perfect fit or top-tier protection.
- Custom-Made Mouthguards: For the best comfort, fit, and safety, custom-made mouthguards are the gold standard. Designed by dental professionals to match your unique dental structure, they provide superior protection and are ideal for both children and adults.
What to expect from your custom mouthguard appointment
Getting a custom mouthguard is one of the quickest and easiest dental appointments you’ll ever go to. Here’s what to expect:
- Brush and floss your teeth before your appointment.
- Your dentist will take impressions of your teeth using a special dental mould.
- Once the impressions are complete, your appointment is done—typically within 20 minutes.
- The impressions are sent to a dental lab, where your mouthguard is crafted (this usually takes one to two weeks).
- Your dentist will notify you when the mouthguard is ready for pick-up.
- During the pick-up appointment, your dentist will ensure the mouthguard fits perfectly before you leave.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. You can get a mouthguard for grinding teeth. Those with bruxism typically grind their teeth during sleep when they are unable to stop this damaging habit consciously.
While you work on methods to stop the grinding, you can wear a custom mouthguard to protect your teeth from wearing down during sleep.
If snoring means you or your partner are kept awake during the night, you should first check with your general practitioner in case obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is the cause. It's important to get a diagnosis, as OSA can be dangerous and lead to accidents due to lack of sleep.
If you have obstructive sleep apnoea and it’s not severe, your dentist may suggest a custom-fitted mouthguard that will help prevent snoring. These oral appliances are used in conjunction with other methods of treatment including assisting weight loss, exercise, and adjusting your sleeping position.
A mouthguard in sports is designed to minimise and potentially completely avoid any damage to your teeth and gums. Many sports with high levels of physical contact, such as rugby and hockey, require players to wear mouthguards in order to protect teeth.
A good mouthguard will do this by adding a thick layer of protective plastic around your teeth, so even if you have a collision with another player, get tackled, or have some other physical clash, your teeth have a layer of plastic around them to absorb some of the shock, much like a helmet does for your head.
This minimises the risk of chipped and cracked teeth as well as broken and knocked out teeth.
No, it is not a good idea to sleep with your sports mouthguard in. If you need a mouthguard to help with bruxism (clenching or grinding in your sleep), you must use a mouthguard specifically made for this issue.
That’s because a bruxism night guard and a sports mouthguard are designed to be different.
A bruxism night guard does not cover your gums, so can be worn comfortably for long periods of time without risking your gum health. Night guards are also less thick and bulky for more comfortable wear, and are perforated with holes to allow water and saliva to pass through more easily and avoid bacteria building up.
Overall, only use a sports mouthguard for sports, and switch to a custom-made night guard for sleeping.
Technically speaking, a mouthguard will not stop you from clenching your teeth. However, it will protect your teeth from wearing down due to clenching or teeth grinding.
Your dentist will work with you to find solutions to help you keep from clenching, such as finding ways to reduce your stress, so that you no longer need a mouthguard to protect your teeth.
Protect your smile today
We’re here to provide personalised care and high-quality, custom-made mouthguards designed to keep your teeth safe during any activity.
Book an appointment today and experience the difference of expert dental care in a trusted, family-friendly environment.