Custom Fitted Mouthguards vs Boil & Bite Style

3 Reasons a Dentist Fitted Mouthguard is Better Than At-Home Boil and Bite Style

You don’t need to waste your time attempting at-home versions of what could be done professionally and properly by a dental professional. While many try their hand at fitting their own mouth guard, believing this to do no harm, the effects of an improperly fitted mouth guard can be long-term.

Whether you require a mouth guard in order to compete in a contact sport or for any of a number of other reasons, the safest and best way to take care of your pearly whites is to invest in a custom fitted mouthguard. They will often be longer lasting and will work more effectively to keep your teeth safe and healthy for longer.

We know that it can be difficult to invest a bit more money in a custom mouthguard when cheap off the shelf options are available, but we also believe that health is a priority and that sometimes the easiest solutions aren’t necessarily the best. This is why we’ve outlined for you some of the most important factors to consider when finding a custom sports mouthguard.

1. Safety First

Mouthguards are incredibly important when playing dangerous contact sports, and an ill-fitting guard can be the difference between a mild blow to the face and a full-fledged injury requiring dental surgery.

Over-the-counter mouthguards simply can’t stand up against the blows sustained in heavy-duty competitions. They aren’t built for it, which can be costly for athletes that make the choice to go with the boil and bite at-home method.

Purchasing a boil and bite guard off the shelf is certainly better than not wearing anything at all, but it doesn’t provide the same level of protection as a dentist fitted mouthguard. Custom guards are made from two layers of material for increased protection. With a tailored fit, they can ensure that there is not unnecessary contact if the teeth slip out of the guard and make contact with each other or the tongue.

Because off-the-shelf products are all made the same way, people often end up with guards that don’t fit as tightly or securely as they should. Space between the teeth and the guards causes friction and forceful contact upon any blow to the face or head. When the body is jolted even slightly, it can cause injuries to the mouth and teeth that can result in the need for costly reconstructive procedures.

Injuries like tooth fractures, bruising in the mouth, and even neck injuries can be easily prevented with the use of a proper custom sports mouthguard, which is why many say that it is a worthwhile investment to have the guard fitted by a professional rather than purchased and boiled at home.

2. Comfort is Key

For proper jaw alignment that doesn’t make the guard feel bulky and uncomfortable, dentist fitted guards are the best way to go.

With at-home options, players run the risk of using a product that will cause muscle strain or discomfort over time. These pains and strains may not be noticeable at first, but over time it will become nearly impossible to continue use of the product. Eventually, users will have to purchase a new one as well as wait for the mouth to heal or the jaw to become less sore.

Buying off-the-shelf essentially means that you are assuming your mouth with all its features, including the shape of your teeth, the size of your tongue, your jaw alignment, and overall mouth size are going to be the same or very similar to other users of the product.

This just simply isn’t true!

In order to properly fit your unique mouth structure, a custom fitted mouthguard is necessary.

With an ill-fitting mouth guard, it can be difficult to speak and breath in a way that feels comfortable and natural, which can be detrimental when attempting to run across the field or the court while remaining focused on the game. Procuring a proper dentist fitted mouthguard ensures that breathing and speaking are easy and normal and that your attention can be focused away from your gear and on playing the game in front of you.

3. Sporty Style

Finally, the third benefit of choosing a custom fitted mouthguard is that it is customisable not only in terms of fit but in terms of style as well.

Off the shelf guards tend to come in a small collection of available colours, but what happens when your purple mouthguard matches the purple uniforms of the opposing team?

With professionally fitted products, you can ensure that you represent your team with the right colours on not just your jersey, but your protective gear as well. With new groundbreaking developments in dental technology, many practices can even print pictures or words onto the guard so that you can protect your body in style.

When the entire team has the same off-the-shelf guard, it can also become difficult to distinguish whose is whose. This means germs are spread constantly, and players have to spend more and more money each time they replace a lost product. This becomes easily solved with the customizable style of professionally fitted mouth guards.

It can be incredibly easy to know which protective gear is yours when you’ve selected the colours and even labels with your name or fun messages to decorate your gear. The customizable style options allow for safety to feel like less of a chore.

Is A Custom Fitted Mouthguard Really Worth It?

It can feel like a small measure taken to protect yourself, but a mouth guard is one of the most essential factors in protecting your body during sporting events. Without a proper custom sports mouthguard, players risk spending extra time and money on expensive dental reconstructive procedures.

The risks are high when playing any sport, and wearing a custom mouthguard is one of the only ways to protect against serious damage to your teeth, tongue and jaw. In order to prevent the stress, pain, and expense down the line, give your mouth the best protection with a custom fitted mouthguard!