It’s Not Just Logos: What Makes A Custom Mouthguard “Custom”

In a world of infinite options and choices for nearly everything that you own, it would be easy to assume that the “custom” part of a custom mouthguard refers to the personalized logos, colors and text you’re able to add to your mouthguard.

While full personalization makes your mouthguard a valuable and unique piece of gear, it’s actually the cut, design and production of your mouthguard that makes it custom. That’s because each mouthguard must be designed for your individual mouth structure in order to be effectively protective and comfortable. For more on mouthguard effectiveness see the National Athletic Trainers’ Association recommendations.

Here are three requirements to make your custom mouthguard a “custom” mouthguard:

1. A Model Mouth

Again, everyone’s mouth is different, so it’s important to be sure that you’re getting a mouthguard that’s been designed taking into account your exact mouth structure.

That means your custom mouthguard starts with an exact impression of your teeth, taken with impression putty or 3D scanning — any other molding method, like boil-and-bite, is not custom. Using the impression allows your mouthguard to be built on an actual model of the mouth, which creates the closest and most intimate fit possible.

Your mouthguard must have a tight enough fit to firmly stay on your upper teeth without being held in place with the lower jaw — meaning no biting or clenching. When a mouthguard fits snuggly, it stays in place during any impact and won’t become dislodged, and that only happens when your mouthguard is a perfect fit.

2. A Cut Above The Rest

Once your mouthguard is built to fit your mouth, it’s then cut and layered to be as comfortable and efficient as possible.

The material of your mouthguard should be limited or removed entirely from the free flow space in your mouth — the area behind the back of your front teeth and on the inside of your molars. This allows you to speak, breathe and even drink without removing your guard, and is only found with true custom mouthguards.

Generic mouthguards, like boil-and-bite guards, consist of only one layer, with the same thickness all the way around and no unique features specific to your mouth. Custom mouthguards that are heat and pressure laminated feature multiple layers, each cut in a specific way to allow for protection where you need it and nothing where you don’t. Each and every part of the mouthguard is made specifically to you and adjusted for your specific needs.

3. Custom For Your Mouth, Custom For Your Sport

Your mouthguard shouldn’t just be customized to your mouth; it should also be made specifically for the sport you play.

While proper protection starts with a minimum of 4 mm of material in the important impact zones — the areas in front of your teeth and under your molars — these zones change from sport to sport.

For sports with heavy facial contact, like boxing or mixed martial arts, your mouthguard should feature more frontal protection for the constant impact it takes. For contact sports like football and ice hockey, frontal impact is guarded by the facemask or shield, so your mouthguard may have a thinner frontal profile, but feature more protection under the molars from upper and lower jaw collisions.

What makes a custom mouthguard “custom?” While personalized logos and colors are great, the actual customization comes from the design, cut and production of your mouthguard, making it unique to you. What else separates custom mouthguards from generic? Find out at the link below.

Why Do You Need A Custom Mouthguard?

Author Bio

Travis Armideo, marketing manager at Gladiator Custom Mouthguards, is a lifelong ice hockey player. He began playing for various clubs at a young age and continued onto junior teams, while also playing lacrosse at the collegiate level. Travis is still heavily involved in athletics, coaching high school and youth ice hockey athletes, as well as playing men’s league ice hockey on a regular basis.