Sports mouthguards and gum guards

A gum guard only works if it's in the mouth and stays put when the knock comes. That single sentence explains most of what's on this page: why custom guards outperform the boil-and-bite kind, why kids stop wearing guards that don't fit, and why the time to sort one out is before the first practice of the season, not after the first chipped tooth.

We make custom gum guards for adults and children, moulded to your teeth from an impression taken at the practice.

Custom vs boil-and-bite

A boil-and-bite guard from the sports shop is softened in hot water and pressed roughly around the teeth. The result fits approximately: it's bulky, it needs the jaw half-clenched to hold it in place, and it muffles breathing and talking, which is why it spends so much time in a sock at the bottom of the kit bag. In a real collision, a loose guard can shift at exactly the wrong moment.

A custom guard is made on a model of your actual teeth. The differences are practical, not cosmetic: it grips the teeth by itself, so it stays put without clenching; it's slimmer, so breathing and shouting for the ball work normally; it covers what should be covered, at the right thickness in the right places. Players keep custom guards in their mouths for a simple reason: they can forget they're wearing them.

For any contact sport (rugby, hockey, boxing, and anything else where a ball, stick, elbow or ground can meet a face), a guard that fits is part of the kit. Repairing a broken front tooth is a lifelong project of crowns and, eventually, replacements; the guard is the cheap part of that story.

Kids and growing mouths

Children's mouths change. Baby teeth go, adult teeth arrive, everything shifts. A guard moulded this season may genuinely not fit next season, and this is the honest cost of custom guards for kids: they need replacing as the mouth changes, typically around once a season or once a year while teeth are actively changing, sometimes longer once the adult teeth are settled.

We'd rather tell you that upfront than have you discover it. The good news is equally practical: a child's guard is checked in minutes at their normal check-up, so you'll know whether last year's guard still does its job before you pay for a new one. And a guard that fits is a guard a child will actually wear. The loose, bulky one gets spat into a hand at the first scrum.

Gum guards, mouthguards: same thing

If you grew up calling it a gum guard, that's the thing this page is about. Gum guard, mouthguard and sports mouthguard are one item. (A bite plate for night-time grinding is different: it's harder, slimmer and built for a different job. That one lives on our bite plates page.)

How getting one works: you come in, we check the teeth quickly and take an impression (a soft mould material in a tray, in the mouth for under a minute). A dental laboratory builds the guard on the model. A few days later you collect it (we'll confirm the timing when you book), we check the fit, and you're done. Book the impression before the season starts: every dentist in a rugby town knows the difference between the February appointment and the April one.

Colours: choose from a wide range of colours. Kids are far more likely to wear a guard they chose.

Looking after a guard

Rinse it in cold water after each use. Hot water warps it, so keep it out of the dishwasher and off the car dashboard. Let it dry, keep it in its ventilated box, and don't let the dog anywhere near it; dogs find them irresistible. Bring it to your check-ups so we can look for wear and check the fit, and replace it when it's bitten through, loose, or the mouth it was made for has changed.

What it costs

More than a boil-and-bite, considerably less than the crown on a broken front tooth, and you'll have the exact price before we take the impression. For children, factor in the replacement cadence above; it's part of the honest cost of the sport, like boots that get outgrown.

Frequently asked questions

Which sports actually need a gum guard?

Any sport where the face can take contact: rugby and hockey are the obvious ones locally, plus boxing, martial arts, and wrestling. If the school or club requires one, custom or boil-and-bite both satisfy the rule; only one of them protects reliably.

My child wears braces. Can they still have a gum guard?

Yes. Braces make a guard more important, not less, since a knock can drive brackets into the lips. It needs a design that accommodates the braces and the movement of the teeth; mention the braces when you book and we'll plan for it.

How long does a custom guard last?

For an adult with settled teeth: seasons, not weeks, until it's worn through or damaged. For a growing child: check it every season, expect to replace it as the mouth changes.

Can I just wear my night-time bite plate for sport?

No. It's built for grinding forces, not impact, and it's the wrong shape and hardness for a collision. Different jobs, different appliances.

What if the guard feels loose later?

A custom guard that has gone loose means either the guard has deformed (usually heat) or the teeth have moved. Bring it in. We'll tell you which, and whether it needs replacing or just checking.