Every winter, the sidelines of footy, rugby and hockey fields across the Lower North Shore fill with parents, oranges at half-time, and the occasional sickening clash of heads. Most kids walk away with a bruise. Some walk away holding a tooth. The difference between a scare and a lifetime of dental work often comes down to one cheap-looking piece of equipment, and whether it was the right one. A good sports mouthguard is the most boring purchase in junior sport and quietly one of the most important. Here is why winter is peak season for dental injuries, what a knock really costs, and why the chemist mouthguard may not be doing its job.
Why Winter Is Peak Season for Dental Injuries
Winter is contact-sport season, and that is exactly when dental injuries spike. A blow to the face during a tackle, a stray elbow under a high ball, or a fall onto a hard court can chip, loosen or knock out a tooth in an instant.
It is not only the obvious collision sports either. The Australian Dental Association notes that beyond rugby, AFL, hockey and boxing, sports such as cricket, basketball, netball, touch football, skateboarding and soccer can also cause damage to the teeth and mouth.
That covers almost every sport a Sydney child plays through the colder months. Yet only about a third of Australians wear a mouthguard during contact sport, and fewer still wear one at training, where plenty of injuries actually happen.
What a Knock to the Mouth Actually Costs
A sports mouthguard protects against more than a chipped front tooth. It helps guard against broken or knocked-out teeth, cuts to the lips and tongue, and fractures to the jaw, the kinds of injuries that turn a Saturday game into a hospital visit.
The real sting comes later. A tooth lost or badly damaged in your teens can need repair, replacement and maintenance for the rest of your life, one dental problem quietly leading to the next across decades.
Set against that, the case for protection is simple. Preventing the injury in the first place spares a young person both the immediate trauma and the long tail of treatment that so often follows it.
Why the Chemist Mouthguard Falls Short
The mouthguards sold in chemists and sports stores come in two types: stock guards that are ready to wear, and boil-and-bite guards softened in hot water and bitten into shape at home. Both are better than nothing, but both have the same weakness.
They are not made for one specific mouth. A guard that does not fit snugly can shift, feel bulky, make breathing and talking harder, and fall out at the worst moment. A child who hates wearing it simply stops, which protects no one.
The ADA’s position is clear: a custom-made mouthguard made by a dentist provides the most protection, because it is designed to fit the exact shape of one person’s teeth and gums while still letting them breathe and speak comfortably.
There is a comfort factor too, and it matters more than it sounds. A custom guard is slim and stable enough that a player forgets it is there, while a bulky, ill-fitting one gets chewed, pushed out with the tongue, or left in the kit bag, which is the most common way a mouthguard fails: by not being worn at all.
How a Custom Mouthguard Is Actually Made
The process is quick and painless. It is best to start with a check-up so any other dental issues are picked up first, then the dentist takes a mould or a digital 3D scan of the teeth.
That scan is used to build a guard that fits firmly and comfortably around the teeth and gums, thick enough to absorb impact yet comfortable enough that a child will actually keep it in. Players are encouraged to wear it for training as well as games.
One practical note for growing kids: as new adult teeth come through and jaws change, a mouthguard needs checking and often remaking each season, so the fit keeps pace with a developing mouth.
Looking after the guard keeps it working. It should be rinsed after use, stored in a ventilated case rather than a hot car or schoolbag, and brought along to dental visits so its fit can be checked. A guard that has gone hard, torn or no longer sits snugly has reached the end of its useful life.
Getting Fitted on the Lower North Shore
For families across Artarmon, Chatswood, Willoughby and North Sydney, getting a custom guard made is a small piece of admin with an outsized payoff, ideally sorted early in the season rather than after the first scare.
The practice sits directly opposite Artarmon station and has cared for local families for over 40 years, using digital scanning to take the impression and offering early-evening and Saturday appointments that fit around school and training schedules.
If a knock does happen, the same team keeps emergency appointments for dental trauma, but the far better outcome is the injury that never happens because the right custom mouthguard was in place.
The Takeaway
A custom-fitted sports mouthguard is among the most effective protection a young player has against broken, knocked-out or displaced teeth, and it works far better than the boil-and-bite version precisely because it is built for one mouth and one mouth only. Getting one made early in the winter season, and remade as a child grows, is a small step that can prevent years of dental treatment down the track. Artarmon Dentists makes custom mouthguards using digital scanning and is happy to fit one in around your family’s training schedule.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a custom mouthguard really better than a boil-and-bite one?
Yes. The Australian Dental Association states that a custom-made mouthguard from a dentist Artarmon provides the most protection, because it is shaped to fit your teeth and gums exactly. It stays in place, allows easier breathing and speaking, and is more comfortable, so it is far more likely to actually be worn.
At what age should a child start wearing a mouthguard?
As soon as they play a sport with any risk of a knock to the face, which includes many non-contact sports. Because children’s mouths change as adult teeth come through, a custom guard should be checked and usually remade each season so it keeps fitting correctly as the jaw develops.
Do mouthguards need to be worn at training too?
Yes. Many dental injuries happen during training, not just games, yet far fewer players wear a guard while practising. A mouthguard only protects when it is in, so wearing it for every session where contact or falls are possible is the sensible habit.
Which sports actually need a mouthguard?
Beyond obvious contact sports like rugby, AFL, hockey and boxing, the ADA notes that cricket, basketball, netball, touch football, skateboarding and soccer can also injure teeth and the mouth. If there is any risk of a blow to the face or a fall, a mouthguard is worth wearing.
How is a custom mouthguard made?
After a quick check-up to confirm no other treatment is needed first, the dentist takes a mould or digital 3D scan of your teeth. That is used to build a guard that fits firmly and comfortably, thick enough to absorb impact while still letting you breathe and speak.
This blog is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute medical or dental advice. Every patient’s oral health needs are unique. Please consult a qualified dental practitioner for advice specific to your situation. Artarmon Dentists encourages all patients to seek a professional assessment before commencing any dental treatment.