Custom Sports Mouthguards

If you or your child plays any sport where a hit to the face is even a remote possibility, a mouthguard is one of the simplest, smartest investments you can make. A custom mouthguard from Bedford Family Dentistry fits your teeth precisely, stays in place without you thinking about it, and protects against chipped teeth, knocked-out teeth, broken jaws, and soft tissue injuries — the kind of damage that costs far more to repair than a mouthguard costs to make.

The difference between a custom mouthguard and the boil-and-bite version from the sporting goods store is night and day. A store-bought guard is bulky, loose, and hard to breathe or talk through — which is exactly why so many kids (and adults) leave it in the bag. A custom guard is molded from a precise impression of your teeth, so it hugs every contour, stays put, and lets you breathe, speak, and focus on the game.

Getting one made is easy. At your next visit — or a quick separate appointment — your hygienist takes an impression of your teeth. The guard is fabricated from that impression, so it fits only your mouth. When you come back to pick it up, it is checked for comfort and adjusted if anything feels off. The whole process takes two short visits.

Custom mouthguards are recommended for football, basketball, soccer, baseball, softball, hockey, lacrosse, wrestling, martial arts, skateboarding, mountain biking, and any other activity where contact or falls are part of the game. If your child plays on a team in Bedford, Forest, Montvale, or anywhere in Bedford County, this is worth having in the equipment bag right next to the cleats.

For adults who grind their teeth at night — a condition called bruxism — a similar type of custom guard, called a night guard, can protect your teeth from the slow, steady damage that grinding causes over time. Cracked fillings, worn enamel, jaw pain, and headaches are all common consequences of nighttime grinding, and a properly fitted guard can prevent most of them. Ask Dr. Maharaj about it at your next exam.

A custom mouthguard typically costs a fraction of a single emergency dental visit. Think of it as insurance for your smile. If your child is starting a new sport season, or if you have been meaning to protect your own teeth on the weekend mountain bike trails along the Blue Ridge, now is the time to ask about it.