How to Fold a Mouth Guard

Mouth guards come in all shapes, sizes and forms. There are also different mouth guards for very specific purposes. For example, for protection against grinding your teeth at night or for moderate protection during sporting activities, you might use what is known as "boil and bite" mouth guards. This type of mouth guard is made out of thermoplastic and that is softened and folded around your teeth so it can be conformed to the shape of your mouth and teeth.

Things You'll Need

  • Mouth guard
  • Pot
  • Tongs
  • Water
  • Bowl
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Take your mouth guard out of the package. Be sure to read the instructions on the package carefully, because different brands could have slightly different instructions.

    • 2

      Add enough water to a pot so that your mouth guard can be completely submerged. Bring the water to a boil.

    • 3

      Drop your mouth guard into the boiling water. The amount of time to leave it there will depend on the specific brand's instructions, but it is usually less than a minute.

    • 4

      Remove the mouth guard with tongs and wait just a few seconds for it to cool. You should be able to handle it with your hands. Otherwise, it could burn your mouth.

    • 5

      Fold the mouth guard around your teeth, and bite down. Use your fingers to fold the edges of the mouth guard up and around your teeth to be sure it gets the exact shape of your mouth.

    • 6

      Remove the mouth guard from your mouth and place it in a bowl of cold water for a few minutes. Your mouth guard will be ready to use after that, because the cold water will have hardened it back to its original texture.