The Facts about Mouth Guards

There are four different types of mouth guards that you can choose from to protect both children and adult teeth in sport activities:

1. Stock Mouth Guards 

   These mouth guards can be worn without any preparation to the mouth guard itself. They are offered in small, medium and large sizes and can be purchased at an athletic or sporting goods store. They tend to wear quickly and may need to be replaced during the sports season.

2. Boil and Bite Mouth Guards 

   These mouth guards are boiled in water for a period of time and then formed to the teeth by applying pressure. They are available through most athletic and sporting goods stores. They tend to wear quickly and may need to be replaced during the sports season.

3. Vacuum-Formed Mouth Guards 

   The dentist can offer patients this option in the dental office. The dentist would take a dental impression of the patient's mouth and then the mouth guard is fabricated to fit the impression of the teeth. This type of mouth guard covers all teeth and may be more expensive than the boil and bite and stock mouth guards.

4. Pressure Laminated Mouth Guards 

   The laminated mouth guards provide many benefits in protecting the mouth. The mouth guard is thicker and provides protection against dental injury or concussion. The laminated mouth guard must be custom made by a dentist and will be more expensive than the vacuum formed mouth guards.1

Please talk to your dental professional about mouth guards and how they can help you reduce oral injuries in your mouth. If you are an athlete, consider having a vacuum-formed or pressure laminated mouth guard made that will fit you exclusively.

© Copyright 2009 Colgate-Palmolive

1 The North Carolina Dental Society Mouth Guard Project. Reviewed information at www.ncdental.org.

This article is intended to promote understanding of and knowledge about general oral health topics. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your dentist or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.