“Do I really need a custom-fit mouthguard, or will an over-the-counter mouthguard work just as well?”

 

This is a valid question, and the answer depends on what your personal preferences are regarding comfort level, price range, materials, and protection levels. To help clarify which type of mouthguard may be the right one for you, we have laid out everything you need to know about the similarities and differences between custom-fit mouthguards and over-the-counter mouthguards.

 

Many mouthguards used by athletes while playing sports except over-the-counter mouthguards are intended to stop teeth from grinding during the night.

 

Both sports and over-the-counter mouthguards are made of plastic, but while most sports mouthguards are very thick and brittle, over-the-counter mouthguards are created out of a thinner and more pliable plastic that is meant to be more suitable to a wider range of people.

Over-the-counter mouthguards come out of their packaging as a smooth, preformed u-shaped tray and cover the entire top row of teeth in order to prevent upper and lower teeth from gnashing and grinding against each other. The mouthguard has to be fitted to your specific teeth before it is comfortable to wear and work effectively.

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