Custom vs. Boil-and-Bite Mouth Guards: Which Should You Choose?

| Updated Date:
Reading Time: 7 min
0 Comment

Table of Contents

Mouth Guards

Table of Contents

Athletes are always at a higher risk of damaging their teeth, especially in high-contact sports. Therefore, it is crucial to choose the right dental device to keep your mouth protected. For this, orthodontics considers your dental needs and offers many products to prevent smile damage, such as custom-fit and boil-and-bite mouth guards.

Custom-fit and boil-and-bite mouth guards are widely used dental products. Both of these play the same role by offering protection, yet are different in many ways. If you want to make wise decisions for your smile protection, this blog is for you. Let’s explore the difference between custom-fit and boil-and-bite mouth guards.

Understanding Mouth Guards

mouth guard
A rugby player with a mouth guard in the mouth

Mouth guards are protective dental devices that are placed in your mouth. They are made of thermoplastic material and act as a shock absorber. It evenly distributes or absorbs any force applied to your mouth and prevents sports-related injuries. If you are an athlete, you need to get a mouth guard for sports and protect your smile.

Do you wish to protect your smile during sports activities?
Wearing a sports mouth guard will help you protect your smile and prevent sports-related injuries.
Order Your Custom-Fit Mouth Guard Today!

What are Boil-and-Bite Mouth Guards?

mouth guard
Boy putting on a mouth guard

Boil-and-bite mouth guards are a type of mouth guard made of thermoplastic material. Before you use them, you need to place them in hot water to soften them. Once it is done, you can easily customize them according to your mouth. Hence offers a slightly customized fit for your smile.

Pros of Boil-and-Bite Mouth Guards

The following are the pros of boil-and-bite mouth guards:

Affordable

Are you an athlete looking for an affordable mouth guard? If so, then boil-and-bite mouth guards are for you. They are pocket-friendly and cost you between $10 and $ 50.

Easily Available

Boil-and-bite mouth guards do not require proper fitting; therefore, they are easily available at sports shops. They are ready to be worn on your smile after a slight molding and adjustments.

Better Protection

Boil-and-bite mouth guards lack a perfect fit to your smile but still offer a slightly customized fit. As compared to over-the-counter products such as stock mouth guards (pre-made mouth guards), these offer more protection.

Easy To Use

Before you put a boil-and-bite mouth guard in your mouth, you need to follow the given steps:

  1. Place your mouth guard in hot water.
  2. Take it out when it gets soft.
  3. Place it in your mouth and adjust accordingly.
  4. After a few minutes it will attain the desired position.

These simple steps make boils and mouth guards easy to use and are molded according to your mouth.

Cons of Boil-and-Bite Mouth Guards

mouth guard
A skateboarder wearing a mouth guard

The following are the cons of boil-and-bite mouth guards you need to know:

Lack of Perfect Fit

Boil-and-bite mouth guards offer more protection than stock mouth guards but are still not able to offer a perfect fit. Due to this, there are still some chances of getting your teeth damaged.

Risk of Improper Molding

Boil-and-bite mouth guards are molded without the supervision of a professional dentist. This sometimes leads to improper fitting, damaging your gums, or failing to provide the required comfort and protection. Hence, they cannot be used for intense sports activities.

Less Durable

These are made of non-durable material which can feel bulky. This can cause discomfort in your mouth and may distract you from the game. The bulky material of your mouth guard also impacts your breathing and talking.

What are Custom-Fit Mouth Guards?

Custom-fit mouth guards are dental devices that are tailored specifically for you. These are manufactured under the supervision of a dentist or an expert with the help of your dental impressions. The impressions of your smile can be taken with a 3D scan or an impression putty.

Pros of Custom Mouth Guards

The following are the pros of the custom fit mouth guards offered to an athlete:

Perfect Fit

Custom-fit mouth guards are manufactured perfectly according to your mouth therefore they offer a snug fit to your teeth. They make sure to stay in place throughout the game, preventing any damage to your smile.

Improved Speech

When wearing a mouth guard, an athlete might experience difficulty in breathing and speaking. With a custom-fit mouth guard and a snug fit to your mouth, it ensures proper speech and breathing.

Enhanced Protection

Its customized feature makes sure to cover your complete smile. If a force is applied to any part of your mouth it is absorbed by your dental guards. Hence your smile remains protected.

Comfort

A mouth guard stays in your mouth throughout the game; therefore, it must be perfectly fitted. A custom-fit mouth guard does not hurt your soft tissues and ensures your comfort while you are focusing on your game.

Compatible For Dental Treatment

Are you looking for sports mouth guards for braces? This is the perfect option for you. As they are customized according to your dental requirements, you can wear them even with a metal braces treatment. With customized sports mouth guards you can have a teeth straightening procedure without any interruption.

Cons of Custom Mouth Guards

The following are the cons of custom mouth guards:

Not Easily Available

Unlike other options, custom mouth guards are not freely available. This is why you need to get them customized under the supervision of a dentist, which can take a few days. There are multiple steps involved in the manufacturing of custom-fit mouth guards to ensure your protection. Therefore, it can be a time-consuming procedure.

Cost

Custom mouth guards can cost more than the other options, ranging from $150 to $300. The cost may also depend on the dentist, location, or material.

Custom Vs Boil-and-Bite Mouth Guards

Features

Boil and Bite Mouth Guards Custom Mouth Guards
Less protection, only used for low-impact sports Enhanced protection, suitable for high-impact sports
Slightly customized Completely customized according to the size of the mouth
Easily available at sports goods shop Not easily available, requires frequent dental visits
Budget-friendly Slightly more expensive than the other options
Limited adjustment No adjustment needed
Less comfortable and impacts breathing and talking Enhanced comfort and allows you to speak and breathe properly

How To Make the Right Decision?

Now that you are aware of the pros and cons of both types, you need to opt for an option that suits you the best. The following are some important factors that can help you choose:

Special Dental Needs

An athlete with braces on might find it difficult to wear other dental guards to protect the smile. Considering your special dental needs, a custom-fit mouth guard can be a perfect option.

Type of Sports

Boil-and-bite mouth guards do not offer complete protection, therefore they can be used for sports activities with minor chances of getting your smile damaged. However, a custom-fit mouth guard can be used for high-impact sports with higher chances of damage.

Cost

Set a budget when making a decision. Explore the options and see what suits you best. Make sure you opt for a more durable, high-quality product so that it works for a longer duration. Custom-fit mouth guards are the expensive options but are made of improved-quality material.

Protect Your Smile with Smilepath

If you are looking for a brand to get your custom-fit mouth guards, Smilepath can help you out. Made with enhanced and durable material, you can get your mouth guards in the following way:

Step 1:

Make an order for your custom-fit mouth guard and receive an impression kit at your doorstep.

Step 2:

The kit comes with a guide that helps you create your impressions at home. Once done, send them back to us for the customization of your mouth guard.

Step 3:

Wear your mouth guard during the game and protect your smile. It helps you stay focused on your game without worrying about your perfect smile.

For more information, call Smilepath at +64 98705733.

To sum it up, custom vs boil-and-bite mouth guards have been a debate for ages. Both of them can be customized according to your mouth but come with their limitations. When choosing a perfect sports mouth guard for your smile, consider your budget, protection, and comfort. Smilepath can help you get a budget-friendly and durable custom mouth guard. Wear it in your mouth and focus on your game without compromising on your perfect smile.

FAQs

1. Are custom mouth guards better than boil-and-bite mouth guards?

Yes! Custom mouth guards are better than the boil-and-bite mouth guards as they offer more protection and consider your comfort.

2. What is the most preferred mouth guard type?

Dentist recommends mouth guards that are made of soft plastic material with enhanced protection and custom-fit.

3. How to choose a right mouth guard?

When deciding for your mouth guard consider cost, material, comfort, and protection. Custom-fit mouth guards consider all these factors and are best to use.

4. Are boil-and-bite mouth guards safe?

Yes! Boil and bite mouth guards are safe to use but they offer limited custom-fit. Therefore they are only safe to use for low-impact sports activities.

5. What happens if you boil a mouth guard for too long?

If mouth guards are boiled for too long they can be easily deformed. This further impacts the functionality of the mouth guard offering less protection.

Back to blog