Dental Mouthguards: The Pros and Cons
What a dental mouthguard actually does, the benefits and drawbacks of wearing one, and how to choose between stock, boil-and-bite and custom-fitted guards.
Not every mouthguard question that comes up in our clinics is about footy season. Alongside the junior sport crowd, we regularly see adults in Kirwan and Bowen asking about a night guard for teeth grinding, and FIFO workers rostering in and out of Emerald wanting to know if the sore jaw they wake up with is something a mouthguard could fix. A mouthguard is a simple device, but it’s worth understanding what it can and can’t do before you decide whether one is right for you.
What Does a Dental Mouthguard Actually Do?
A mouthguard is a removable device that sits over your teeth and gums, cushioning them against impact or friction. There are three broad types: stock guards (pre-formed, one-size-fits-all, bought off the shelf), boil-and-bite guards (a thermoplastic shell softened in hot water and shaped to your bite at home), and custom-fitted guards (made from an impression your dentist takes of your own teeth). They’re used for two quite different purposes: protecting teeth from a knock during contact sport, or protecting them from the wear of grinding and clenching (bruxism) overnight.
The Pros of Wearing a Mouthguard
For sport, the main benefit is straightforward: a mouthguard cushions a knock to the face that might otherwise chip, crack or knock out a tooth. It also helps protect the lips, cheeks and tongue from being cut against sharp edges during a collision, which matters for the junior league and netball squads training out of Bohle Plains and Kirwan most weekends.
For grinding and clenching, a night guard works differently. Rather than absorbing a single impact, it creates a barrier between the upper and lower teeth so they can’t wear each other down through the night. Patients who use one often notice less grinding noise (a relief for a partner sharing the bed), less morning jaw soreness, and in some cases fewer symptoms linked to jaw joint (TMJ) discomfort. It can also help reduce the gum recession that heavy grinding sometimes causes around the necks of the teeth over time.
The Cons Worth Knowing
Mouthguards aren’t without drawbacks. A guard that doesn’t fit well can be genuinely uncomfortable: bulky stock and boil-and-bite guards in particular can irritate the gums and cheeks, and some people find them harder to breathe or talk through, which matters if you’re wearing one during strenuous training rather than just sitting on the bench. A poor-fitting guard is also more likely to come loose at the worst moment, or simply end up left in the kit bag because it’s uncomfortable enough that nobody wants to wear it.
Guards also wear out. Growing kids and teenagers in particular can outgrow a boil-and-bite guard within a season or two, and any guard, sport or night, will eventually need replacing as the material breaks down with use. None of this makes a mouthguard not worth having, but it does mean fit and maintenance matter more than people expect.
Choosing the Right Type for You
Stock and boil-and-bite guards are inexpensive and available without a dentist visit, which makes them a reasonable starting point for casual or occasional use. But because they aren’t shaped to your actual bite, they tend to be bulkier, less comfortable, and offer less reliable protection than a guard made specifically for your mouth.
A custom-fitted mouthguard, made from an impression taken at one of our clinics, sits closer to the gum line, stays in place better, and is generally easier to wear for longer periods, whether that’s a full training session or a full night’s sleep. For anyone playing regularly, grinding heavily, or wearing braces or dental implants during contact sport, the closer fit is worth the extra step. Your dentist will always give you a written quote before any fitting goes ahead, so you know what’s involved before committing.
Wearing and Caring for Your Mouthguard
However you land on type, a mouthguard only helps if it’s actually worn and kept in decent condition. Rinse it before and after use, brush your teeth beforehand so you’re not sealing food and bacteria against them overnight, and store it in a firm, ventilated case rather than a sweaty sports bag or a bedside drawer where it can warp or pick up bacteria. Clean it with cold water and a soft brush: never hot water, which can distort the fit. If it starts to feel loose, develops cracks or holes, or a growing teenager’s jaw has visibly changed shape since it was made, it’s time for a replacement rather than persisting with a guard that’s no longer doing its job properly.
Talk to Your Dentist About the Right Guard for You
Whether it’s a junior sport guard for the season ahead or a night guard for grinding that’s been keeping you or your partner up, our team can talk you through the options and take an impression for a proper fit. Find your nearest clinic in Ingham, Innisfail, Bohle Plains, Townsville, Bowen or Emerald on our our clinics page, meet the team on dentists, or contact us to book a fitting.
This article is general information only and is not a substitute for personalised advice from your dentist.
Frequently asked questions
Materially, yes. A custom guard is made from a mould of your teeth, so it stays in place, covers properly and lets you speak and breathe more easily. Boil-and-bite guards commonly fit loosely, get pushed out of position on impact and are often left out because they are uncomfortable, which protects nobody.
Both. A substantial share of dental injuries happen at training rather than in matches, precisely because guards are treated as match-day equipment. If the activity involves contact or a hard ball, the guard should be in.
A sports mouthguard is not designed for that. Grinding needs a nightguard, made from different material to a different design, intended for sustained clenching forces rather than a single impact. Using a sports guard for grinding wears it out quickly and does not protect properly.
Rinse in cold water after each use, brush it gently, and let it dry before storing it in a ventilated case. Never leave it in a hot car or wash it in hot water, since heat distorts it. Check the fit each season, particularly for children, whose mouths change quickly.
Have a question about your own situation?
Book a visit with your local My Family Dental team across North Queensland. We’ll assess your teeth, explain your options, and answer your questions.