Sports Mouth Guards

Most community and school sports leagues require a mouth guard, and for good reason: a blow to the face or jaw during play can chip, crack, or knock out a tooth in an instant. At Holladay Smiles, Dr. Michael T. Smith creates custom sports mouth guards in Salt Lake City to help protect your or your child's smile during athletic activity.

A custom sports mouth guard is molded specifically to fit your teeth and bite, offering more secure protection and a more comfortable fit than a stock or boil-and-bite guard from a sporting goods store. Anyone participating in contact sports, such as football, basketball, hockey, wrestling, or soccer, can benefit from a custom mouth guard, and many leagues require one before allowing participation. Even sports with less direct contact can carry a risk of falls or collisions, so a mouth guard is worth considering for many activities.

Benefits of a custom sports mouth guard include:

• Better protection: A custom fit stays in place more reliably than a generic guard.
• More comfortable: A guard made for your bite is easier to wear and talk with during play.
• Protects existing dental work: A mouth guard helps shield crowns, braces, and other dental work from impact.
• Durable: Custom guards are made from durable materials designed to hold up over a season of play.

To create your mouth guard, Dr. Smith takes an impression or digital scan of your teeth, then checks the fit to make sure it is comfortable and secure before you take it to the field, court, or rink. It is a good idea to replace your mouth guard at the start of every season, or sooner if it shows signs of wear. Rinse it with cool water before and after each use, and store it in a ventilated case away from direct sunlight or heat, which can warp the material.