A missing or chipped tooth from a stray elbow or a bad fall is one of the most common — and most preventable — youth sports injuries. The fix is cheap and simple: a properly fitted mouthguard, worn every practice and every game, not just when a coach happens to remind them.
This guide breaks down the three main types of mouthguards, how to pick the right one for your child’s sport, age, and budget, and what to do if they wear braces — so you can buy with confidence instead of grabbing whatever’s on the shelf at checkout.
Quick Answer
For most recreational and school-age youth athletes, a boil-and-bite mouthguard from a sporting goods store offers the best balance of protection, fit, and cost, and is easy to replace as a child’s teeth change. Serious or high-contact athletes (football, hockey, lacrosse, boxing/MMA) and kids with braces or dental work benefit most from a custom-fitted mouthguard made by a dentist, which fits more precisely and stays in place better during hard contact.
The Three Types of Mouthguards, Explained
Stock mouthguards come pre-formed in a few generic sizes and are worn straight out of the package. They’re the cheapest option, often just a few dollars, but they only stay in place if the jaw is clenched shut, which makes them the least protective choice and generally not recommended by dentists for real contact play.
Boil-and-bite mouthguards are softened in hot water, then bitten down on so the material molds to the child’s teeth as it cools. They’re widely sold at sporting goods stores and pharmacies at a modest price point, and most brands let you reheat and remold them if the first attempt doesn’t fit well. Because the material wears down with use, plan to replace one at least every season, and sooner for a fast-growing child or one who loses baby teeth mid-season.
Custom-fitted mouthguards are made from an impression or digital scan of your child’s teeth, then fabricated by a dental lab to match their exact bite. They offer the best fit, the most comfortable breathing and speaking, and the best contact protection, but they cost significantly more than an off-the-shelf guard — the exact price varies widely by dentist, location, and dental lab, and dental insurance sometimes covers part of the cost. Because kids’ mouths change quickly, a custom guard usually needs to be remade every year or two, or sooner after braces come off.
How to Choose the Right One for Your Child
Start with the sport, and check your league’s rulebook rather than assuming. Under NFHS high school rules, a mouthguard is required by rule for football, field hockey, and boys’ and girls’ lacrosse, and ice hockey rules require one as well. Wrestling is the sport people most often get wrong: NFHS Wrestling Rule 4.2.6 only requires a tooth and mouth protector for wrestlers who have braces or another special orthodontic appliance — it is not a blanket requirement for every wrestler — though a dentist may still recommend one for any wrestler given how much face-to-mat contact the sport involves. Basketball, soccer, and baseball carry a real but lower risk of dental injury and a mouthguard usually isn’t mandated by rule, though many individual leagues still require one — a well-fitted boil-and-bite guard is typically enough for these sports.
Factor in braces and orthodontic work. Kids in braces need a guard with extra depth to cover brackets and wires without gouging the cheeks — look for boil-and-bite models specifically labeled for braces, or ask the orthodontist about an orthodontic-specific guard, since a standard tight-fitting mouthguard can damage brackets on impact.
Think about growth and mixed dentition. Kids who are actively losing baby teeth or getting adult teeth in will outgrow a mouthguard fast, so it often makes more sense to stick with an inexpensive boil-and-bite guard until their bite is more stable, rather than paying for a custom guard that needs replacing every few months.
Check for full coverage, comfortable breathing, and league rules. A properly fitted guard should cover all the upper teeth (and lower teeth for braces-wearers), stay in place without needing to be clamped down, and let your child breathe and talk normally. Confirm your league’s or school athletic association’s written equipment rules before the season starts, since requirements vary by sport and by state association.
Tips and Common Mistakes
Don’t buy a mouthguard and forget about it — thermoplastic material breaks down with chewing and heat, so inspect it for thinning, tears, or an odor at the start of each season and replace it if it’s damaged or no longer fits snugly.
Skip the ‘one size fits the whole team’ box of stock guards for anything beyond casual practice; a loose stock guard is only marginally better than nothing and can even become a choking hazard if a child bites through it.
Follow the boil-and-bite instructions exactly — using water that’s too hot, or not letting your child bite and shape it firmly enough, is the number one reason these guards end up too loose to work.
Rinse the mouthguard after every use and let it air dry in a vented case; storing it wet in a closed bag encourages bacteria growth and speeds up material breakdown.
Write your child’s name on the case, and consider a strap or clip that attaches to a football helmet or lacrosse cage so it doesn’t get lost between sideline water breaks — a lost mouthguard is the most common reason kids end up skipping one entirely.
Explore more: more youth sports parent guides.
youth athlete mouthguards FAQs
Do all youth sports require a mouthguard?
Rules vary by league and sport. Under NFHS high school rules, football, field hockey, lacrosse, and ice hockey require one by rule, while wrestling only requires one (under NFHS Rule 4.2.6) for wrestlers who have braces or another orthodontic appliance — it is not required for wrestlers generally. Sports like basketball and soccer usually don’t mandate one by rule, though individual leagues may. Check your specific league’s or school district’s equipment policy before the season starts.
How often should we replace a youth mouthguard?
Boil-and-bite guards should generally be replaced every season, and sooner if your child is losing teeth or the material looks worn or thin. Custom-fitted guards typically last a year or two but need to be remade sooner during periods of fast dental growth or after braces come off.
Can a child with braces wear a regular boil-and-bite mouthguard?
Not a standard one — a normal boil-and-bite guard can be too tight over brackets and wires. Look for a boil-and-bite guard specifically labeled for braces, which is molded with extra room, or ask your child’s orthodontist for a recommendation suited to their treatment stage.
Is a custom mouthguard worth the extra cost for a recreational-league kid?
For casual, lower-contact play, a well-fitted boil-and-bite guard is usually enough and easier to replace as your child grows. Custom guards make the most sense for serious or high-contact athletes, kids with braces or dental work, or anyone who has had a previous mouth injury.
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Photo by Kiros Amin on Unsplash.