Why Mouthguards Matter as Junior Sport Season Kicks Off
A look at custom versus store-bought mouthguards for North Queensland kids and adults getting back into sport this season.
Easter school holidays are when a lot of junior sport around North Queensland gets moving again: pre-season training picks up, club rego days fill the calendar, and kids who spent summer at the pool suddenly need boots, shin pads and a mouthguard sorted before the first game. It is also the point in the year when we see the most mouthguard questions come through our clinics, from young families in the new estates around Bohle Plains and Kalynda Chase through to established sporting households in Kirwan. So it is worth talking through what actually protects a set of teeth on the field, because not all mouthguards do the same job.
Why sports and dental injuries go together
Contact and collision sports carry a real risk of knocks to the face and mouth, and a surprising share of dental trauma we see each year is sport-related. A mouthguard’s job is to cushion that impact: spreading the force of a blow across the jaw rather than letting it land directly on the teeth, and reducing the risk of chipped, cracked or knocked-out teeth. Any mouthguard is better than none. But the amount of protection, and how comfortable it is to wear for a full game or training session, varies a lot depending on the type.
Boil-and-bite mouthguards: what you’re getting
The boil-and-bite mouthguard is the version most families are familiar with: sold off the shelf at sports stores and pharmacies, softened in hot water and bitten into shape at home. They are inexpensive and easy to grab last minute, which is exactly why they are popular with families juggling training schedules across Emerald’s junior sporting clubs or getting kids kitted out in Bowen ahead of a new season.
The trade-off is fit and durability. Because they are shaped by biting rather than moulded from an actual impression of the teeth, the fit is approximate at best. That can mean a mouthguard that feels bulky, makes breathing or talking harder during a game, or works loose at exactly the wrong moment. The plastic is also generally thinner, so it wears out faster and may need replacing more than once a season, particularly for growing kids.
Custom-fitted mouthguards: the difference
A custom mouthguard is made from an actual impression or scan of your teeth, so the fit follows the exact contours of your mouth rather than an approximation. That precision means it sits securely without needing to be clenched in place, stays put during a tackle or a fall, and is noticeably easier to breathe and talk through, which matters when you are trying to call a play or communicate with teammates.
They are also made from thicker, more durable material in the areas that take the most impact, which generally means better protection over the life of the mouthguard and less frequent replacement. Your dentist will talk you through the process and give you a written quote before proceeding, so there are no surprises on cost.
Choosing what’s right for your family
For a one-off social game or a child who has outgrown three mouthguards already this year, a boil-and-bite option is a reasonable stopgap. But for anyone playing regularly across a season, whether that is a teenager training out of Kirwan several nights a week, or an adult social player picking football back up after the break: a custom-fitted mouthguard is worth the conversation. It is a small piece of kit, but it is doing a genuinely important job every time your child or partner takes the field.
Families across our clinics, including plenty of defence families around Bohle Plains who are settling into a new town and sorting out sport enrolments for the first time, often ask us to check fit at the same visit as a regular check-up, which makes it easy to fold in with a visit you are already booking.
Getting fitted before season starts
If pre-season training is already underway or your club’s first game is on the calendar, now is the time to get a mouthguard sorted rather than scrambling the night before kickoff. Our team across Ingham, Innisfail, Bohle Plains, Kirwan, Bowen and Emerald can take an impression and talk you through the options for your family’s sport and budget. Find your nearest clinic on our clinics page, meet the team at our dentists page, or get in touch via our contact page to book a fitting before the season gets underway.
This article is general information only and is not a substitute for personalised advice from your dentist.
Frequently asked questions
Any sport with contact or a hard projectile: rugby league and union, AFL, hockey, boxing and martial arts, basketball, netball, cricket when keeping or batting close, and skateboarding or BMX. If a collision or a ball to the face is plausible, a guard is worth wearing.
Yes. A large proportion of dental injuries occur at training rather than in games, because guards are often treated as match-day gear. Making it part of putting the boots on is the simplest way to avoid the injury that happens in the one session it was left in the bag.
Usually two visits: one to take the mould, and a second to collect the finished guard, typically a week or two later. Getting it made before the season starts rather than after the first game is worth planning for, particularly if you are travelling in from out of town.
The evidence is not conclusive on concussion. What a mouthguard reliably does is protect the teeth, lips and jaw from impact, and reduce the risk of a knocked-out or fractured tooth. That is the claim worth making for it, and it is reason enough to wear one.
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.