Sports mouthguards for kids are one of the simplest ways to prevent a broken or knocked-out tooth, and they are worth it for any sport with contact, collisions, flying balls or falls. A guard only protects if your child actually keeps it in, so fit and comfort matter as much as thickness. Here is how to choose one, how braces and aligners change the picture, and what to do if a tooth gets hurt anyway.
Dental groups recommend a mouthguard for sports where the face can meet a ball, a stick, the ground or another player. In Miami that covers a lot of what kids actually play:
Age is less important than activity. If a younger child plays contact sports, a guard still protects baby teeth and the adult teeth forming underneath. Teams and leagues sometimes require one; even when they do not, practices cause plenty of injuries.
| Type | How it fits | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock | Pre-formed, ready to wear | Cheapest, available anywhere | Loose and bulky; kids often clench to hold it, or take it out |
| Boil-and-bite | Softened in hot water, then bitten into at home | Better fit for little cost, sold in youth sizes | Easy to get wrong; can be too thin where bitten hard |
| Custom | Made from a scan or model of your child's teeth | Closest fit, easier to talk and breathe, more likely to stay in | Costs more and takes a visit; needs remaking as the mouth changes |
Whichever type you buy, check the fit at home. A good guard covers the upper teeth back to the molars, stays in place when your child opens their mouth without biting down, does not make them gag, and lets them speak and drink water in short sentences. If they keep pulling it out on the field, it does not fit well enough to protect them.
Kids in braces need protection just as much, maybe more, because a hit can push the lips into brackets and cut them. A regular boil-and-bite guard molded tightly over brackets can grab onto them and be hard to remove, and it stops fitting as the teeth move. Orthodontic mouthguards are shaped with extra room for brackets and wires and are usually worn on the upper teeth. Ask your child's orthodontist which they prefer.
Clear aligners are not mouthguards. They are thin and are not designed to absorb a blow. For games and practices, the aligners usually come out and go into their case, a sports guard goes in, and the aligners go back in after a rinse. If your teen is in Invisalign, count the time out of the mouth toward the daily wear goal.
Bring the guard to checkups. It takes only a moment to see whether it still fits and whether it shows signs of heavy clenching. Sports guards are different from the guards made for nighttime grinding; our night guards page explains the difference.
Mouthguards reduce injuries but cannot prevent every one. If a permanent (adult) tooth is knocked out, time matters: pick it up by the crown, keep it moist and get to a dentist right away. Our step-by-step guide on a knocked-out tooth in the first 30 minutes walks you through it. A knocked-out baby tooth is a different situation and should not be put back in; call the dentist for advice.
For a chipped or cracked tooth, save any pieces in milk or saliva and call; see cracked or chipped tooth. Any blow to the head with confusion, vomiting, drowsiness or a headache that gets worse needs a doctor or the ER first, before the teeth.
Dr. Aakash Rana, DDS, a family dentist, makes custom sports guards from a digital 3D scan with our in-house lab and sees kids, teens and adults. Coverage for sports guards varies and many plans do not include them; we check your benefits for you. Learn more on our dentist for kids page.
Dr. Aakash Rana, DDS is a general dentist trained at NYU College of Dentistry, with more than $100,000 in continuing education. He plans and treats each case at Prana Dental himself, works with our in-house lab, and refers to a specialist when a case needs one.
As soon as they play a sport with contact, falls or flying balls, regardless of age. Guards come in youth sizes for younger kids. The main thing is choosing one that fits well enough that they keep it in.
For many kids it is a reasonable choice, especially when fitted carefully at home. It protects better than a loose stock guard. Custom guards usually fit more comfortably and evenly, which can make a difference for kids who play a lot or wear braces.
Yes, and they should for contact sports. Choose an orthodontic guard designed with room for brackets rather than molding a boil-and-bite guard tightly over them. Ask the orthodontist which type they recommend.
Check it at the start of each season and replace it when it is torn, chewed, thin or loose. Growing kids, especially those losing baby teeth, often need a new one every season or so.
Mouthguards are designed to protect the teeth, lips and tongue. They are not considered a reliable way to prevent concussions. Follow your league's helmet and concussion rules, and see a doctor after any significant head injury.
Call or text (786) 579-0521 to book a scan for a custom sports guard. We're open, Monday to Saturday, 8am to 8pm.