Three Facts About Custom Mouthguards You Need To Know

From pee-wee football and youth soccer to high school lacrosse and professional basketball, the number one concern of any coach, trainer or parent is player safety.

With an estimated 5 million teeth knocked out in the U.S. each year related to sports and recreation activities, it’s important you take every precaution possible to protect your athletes.

However, there are means for you to provide your players with the protection they need, and custom mouthguards should be a part of your line of defense.

While mouthguards may seem like just another piece of equipment, custom mouthguards provide serious protection from serious injuries — which is why they’re recommended by the American Dental Association. But not all custom mouthguards are created equal.

When it comes to protecting your players, there are three important factors that you must consider when choosing your custom mouthguards:

Protection

Not all custom mouthguards are created equal … and neither are mouths.

Everyone’s mouth is different. It’s important to be sure your players are getting mouthguards that have been designed taking into account the individual structure of their mouths.

In the past, your players would have had to go to a specially-trained dentist or orthodontist to get a custom-fit, hand-cut mouthguard. But with a revolutionary Impression System, your players get the precise protection they need that’s only available using the unique structure of their own mouths.

According to the Academy for Sports Dentistry, custom mouthguards that are individually engineered to fit an athlete’s teeth and mouth are 1000% more protective than any other type of mouthguard. The better the fit, the more likely the guard is right where it needs to be when your players take a hit.

Comfort

While protection is obviously the most important reason to provide your athletes with custom mouthguards, comfort is another major factor to take into account. When it comes to comfort, it’s all about the production of the guard.

Some custom mouthguards are cut using a mathematical model and produced using a vacuum-formed process, which uses 14.7 lbs. per sq. in. of pressure to form the guard around the model of the athlete’s mouth. Due to the low pressure the material cannot be laminated, leaving the guard with a uniform thickness. That means your athletes have thickness where they need it for protection and thickness where they don’t — making the mouthguard uncomfortable and less effective.

Mouthguards that are hand-cut and produced with heat and laminated pressure (80-120 lbs. per sq. in.) are able to be customized to fit intimately in the mouth of each individual athlete. The higher pressure allows lamination of different layers, so your guards are thick where protection is needed and thinner where comfort is more important.

Not only are they more comfortable, but heat and pressure laminated mouthguards are also braces friendly! With a special “Ortho Channel,” your custom mouthguards will fit perfectly over braces without inhibiting tooth growth or alignment.

Performance

Heat and pressure laminated mouthguards don’t just provide better protection and comfort than other custom mouthguards — they also provide your players with an athletic advantage.

Mouthguards that are formed to an athlete’s specific mouth structure, allow the athlete to speak unimpeded, while keeping the guard firmly on their teeth. That means better communication on the field and less attention your players need to pay to their mouths.

The precise fit of a custom mouthguard also allows for better breathing techniques. By taking in more oxygen, your players maximize their endurance and performance — meaning they’ll be faster, stronger and last longer than opponents.

Custom mouthguards don’t just protect your players … they enhance them!

And, of course, let’s not forget about style. With the ability to completely personalize your custom mouthguards with team colors, names and logos, your players will look good while getting the protection they need.

Protect your athletes with a comfortable, high-performance Gladiator Custom Mouthguard, the industry-leader in custom mouthguards.