Mouth guards are essential equipment for athletes of all ages who participate in sporting events and activities. The use of a mouth guard can protect the teeth, lips, cheeks, and tongue from injuries sustained during sporting activities.

According to the National Youth Sports Foundation for Safety, the stock mouth guards purchased from a sporting goods store, without professional fitting, provide a low level of protection, if any. And, if the wearer loses consciousness, there is a risk that the mouth guard may lodge in the throat, possibly obstructing the airway. Inexpensive mouth guards that are not professionally fitted do not provide adequate protection, and can even make breathing difficult. In addition, they are made of materials that can potentially be bitten through by an athlete upon injury or impact. Standard mouth guards purchased from a sporting goods or drug store are typically placed in boiling water, then molded by the wearer in an effort to make them fit. Custom-fitted mouth guards that are recommended, individually prescribed and dispensed by dentists, provide the best fit and protection for athletes of all ages. Manufactured from a high-grade vinyl for resiliency and shock-absorption, professional mouth guards are odorless and hypoallergenic. When carefully fitted, a mouth guard creates a custom cushion protecting the teeth and mouth, and absorbing the shock from direct impact to the jaw, chin and face, thus reducing the risk of concussion.

Dentists and the coaches of youth sports teams strongly support the use of custom-fitted mouth guards for protection while participating in a variety of sports. They are joined by the ADA, recommending the use of custom mouth guards for sports and activities including: Basketball, Gymnastics, Boxing, Handball, Field hockey, Ice hockey, Football, Lacrosse, Martial arts, Volleyball, Racquetball, Water polo, Skateboarding, Water skiing, Skiing, Weight lifting, Soccer, Wrestling, and Surfing.