How to Customize Your Own Mouthpiece

In today's consumer market, customization is king. You can customize your car, order a custom suit or build a custom home. One would think that when it comes to protecting our pearly whites, that a custom mouthpiece would be a given, right? Wrong. Surprisingly, many mouthpieces sold in sports apparel stores are sized either small, medium or large. Fortunately, there are some simple steps you can take to customize your mouthpiece for a better fit.

Things You'll Need

  • Water
  • Boil and bite mouthguard
  • Dental assistance
Show More

Instructions

  1. Boil and Bite Mouthguards

    • 1

      Boil and Bite mouthpieces can be purchased at most sports apparel stores and allow you to customize to fit your bite. To customize the mouthpiece, bring a small pot of water to a rolling boil. There should be enough water in the pot so that your mouthpiece can be fully immersed, but so much that it will be difficult to fish out.

    • 2

      Immerse your mouthpiece. Drop your mouthpiece into the pot of water and wait 15 seconds before removing it. Drop your mouthpiece in cold water for up to 5 seconds then quickly dry it off.

    • 3

      Place the mouthpiece in your mouth and bite down. The plastic material should feel soft and malleable. Bite down until you feel your teeth have made an impression. Mold and press the impression with your fingers until the fit feels comfortable.

    Dental Mouthpieces

    • 4

      According to the Academy for Sports Dentistry, dental mouthpieces provide the best protection and fit. To create a custom dental mouthpiece, your dentist will create a mixture of quick-drying dental putty and place it in a dental tray. He will place the tray in your mouth so that he can take an impression of your teeth and gums. Bite down on the tray for a few minutes and keep your mouth still to make a good impression.

    • 5

      Provide your dentist with information about the type of sport you are engaged in. She may have thermoplastic polymers with different strengths suited for different sports and different levels of competition. You can also work with your dentist to customize your mouthpiece based on your dental needs such as cavities or missing teeth.

    • 6

      After the dentist has created your mouthpiece through various molding techniques, try it out. Determine whether it feels comfortable, whether you can talk with the mouthpiece in your mouth, and whether the thickness and support feels consistent all around. If there are any problems, let your dentist know so she can adjust the fit to your liking.