Whether you are sprinting down the soccer field, sparring in the ring, or shooting hoops with friends, your smile faces real risk every time you play. A single elbow, ball, fall, or collision can chip, crack, or knock out a tooth in an instant, turning a fun game into a dental emergency. A custom mouth guard is one of the simplest and most effective ways to protect your teeth, and at Infinite Dental Wellness in Glendale, CA, Dr. Leon Kiraj and Dr. Liana Muradyan craft comfortable, custom-fit guards that keep your winning smile safe and strong.
This page covers what mouth guards are, who needs them, why a dentist-made guard outperforms store-bought options, how the process works, and how to keep your guard clean and lasting. If you or your child plays sports or takes part in any physical activity, a custom mouth guard is a small investment that can save you from painful and costly dental damage.
Extra Protection for Your Teeth
A mouth guard is a protective appliance that cushions your teeth, gums, lips, and jaw from impact. Worn over the upper teeth, it absorbs and distributes the force of a blow that might otherwise crack a tooth, drive teeth into the lip, or even contribute to a jaw injury or concussion. Think of it as a helmet for your mouth, a thin layer of protection that stands between an ordinary collision and a serious, often permanent, injury to your smile.
Teeth do not heal or grow back the way many other parts of the body do. Once a permanent tooth is broken or lost, it requires professional treatment to restore or replace it, which can mean crowns, bridges, dentures, or other restorative work. Wearing a mouth guard is a proactive way to avoid that outcome entirely, protecting both your health and your wallet.
What Do Mouth Guards Look Like?
Mouth guards are typically made of a flexible, durable material that fits over your teeth. A custom guard from our office is molded precisely to the contours of your mouth, so it hugs your teeth securely without being bulky or uncomfortable. Because it is made just for you, it stays in place during activity, allows you to breathe and speak reasonably well, and does not feel like a foreign object you constantly have to adjust. Custom guards can even be made in different thicknesses depending on your sport and level of contact, and many can be personalized in color.
Why Do People Wear Mouth Guards?
The primary reason people wear mouth guards is to protect against injury during sports and physical activity. Dentists and sports organizations strongly recommend mouth guards for a wide range of activities, especially those involving contact or the risk of falls and flying objects. You should consider a mouth guard if you participate in activities such as:
- Football, hockey, lacrosse, and other contact sports
- Basketball, soccer, and baseball, where elbows and balls pose a risk
- Boxing, martial arts, and wrestling
- Skateboarding, biking, and skating
- Gymnastics and other activities with fall risk
- Any recreational activity where a blow to the face is possible
Mouth guards are valuable for athletes of all ages, from children in youth leagues to competitive adults. Because young, growing mouths are especially vulnerable, protecting children's teeth during sports is particularly important. A custom guard ensures that your child stays protected and comfortable so they can focus on the game.
What Is the Risk of Not Wearing a Mouth Guard?
Skipping a mouth guard exposes your teeth and mouth to a long list of potential injuries. A direct hit can chip or fracture a tooth, knock a tooth loose, or knock it out entirely. The lips, cheeks, and tongue can be cut against the teeth, and in some cases the jaw can be injured. Dental injuries are not only painful and frightening, they are also expensive and time-consuming to treat, sometimes requiring emergency visits, multiple appointments, and ongoing restorative care for years to come.
By contrast, the cost and effort of wearing a mouth guard are minimal. Clinical experience consistently shows that mouth guards dramatically reduce the risk of dental and oral injuries during sports. For a small, comfortable appliance, the protection it offers is enormous, which is why we encourage every athlete in our care to wear one.
Why Have a Mouth Guard Created by a Dentist?
You can buy a mouth guard at many sporting goods stores, so why see a dentist? The answer comes down to fit, comfort, and protection. Store-bought guards generally come in two forms: stock guards that are one-size-fits-all, and boil-and-bite guards that you soften in hot water and shape at home. Both are better than nothing, but neither matches the precision of a professionally made guard.
A custom mouth guard made by your dentist is molded to the exact shape of your teeth and bite. This precise fit offers several important advantages over generic options:
- Superior protection, because the guard fits snugly and absorbs impact evenly
- Greater comfort, so you are more likely to actually wear it
- A secure fit that stays in place during intense activity
- Better breathing and speaking compared with bulky store-bought guards
- Durability that holds up over a full season and beyond
Because a custom guard fits so well and feels comfortable, athletes are far more likely to keep it in throughout practice and play, rather than removing it out of frustration. A guard only protects you when you are wearing it, which makes comfort a genuine safety feature.
How the Process Works
Getting a custom mouth guard at Infinite Dental Wellness is quick and easy. During your visit, your dentist takes an impression or digital scan of your teeth. This mold captures the precise shape of your mouth so your guard can be crafted to fit perfectly. Your custom guard is then made from durable, comfortable material designed to withstand the demands of your sport. When it is ready, we ensure the fit is just right and show you how to insert, remove, and care for it. The whole process is comfortable and straightforward, and the result is protection tailored specifically to you.
How Do You Clean Mouth Guards?
Keeping your mouth guard clean is essential for both hygiene and longevity. Because it spends time in your mouth and then in a case, a guard can collect bacteria if it is not cared for properly. Fortunately, daily maintenance is simple. We recommend the following routine:
- Rinse your guard with cool water before and after each use
- Brush it gently with a soft toothbrush, and mild soap if needed
- Avoid hot water, which can warp the material
- Let it dry completely before storing it
- Store it in a sturdy, ventilated case to keep it clean and protected
- Keep it away from heat and direct sunlight to maintain its shape
- Bring it to your dental checkups so we can inspect it for wear
With this easy care, your mouth guard will stay fresh, hygienic, and effective. Over time, guards do wear down, especially for heavy users and growing children, so we will help you know when it is time for a replacement.
Are Custom Mouth Guards Affordable?
Custom mouth guards are an affordable form of protection, especially when you consider the cost of repairing or replacing damaged teeth. A single dental injury can lead to far greater expense, discomfort, and inconvenience than a custom guard. At Infinite Dental Wellness, we accept all PPO dental insurance plans and will help you understand any coverage and out-of-pocket costs before we begin. Please note that we do not participate with Medi-Cal or Denti-Cal. We are always glad to discuss pricing openly so that protecting your smile fits comfortably within your budget.
Types of Mouth Guards
Not all mouth guards are the same, and understanding the options helps explain why a custom guard is worth choosing. Broadly speaking, there are three categories. Stock mouth guards come ready to wear straight out of the package; they are inexpensive but bulky, ill-fitting, and often uncomfortable, which makes them the least protective and the least likely to be worn consistently. Boil-and-bite guards are softened in hot water and then bitten into to create a rough impression of your teeth; they fit somewhat better than stock guards but still fall short of a precise, professional fit. Custom guards, made by your dentist from an exact mold of your mouth, offer the best fit, comfort, and protection by a wide margin.
There is also more than one purpose a mouth guard can serve. Sports guards protect the teeth from impact during athletic activity, while night guards, a related appliance, protect the teeth from grinding and clenching during sleep. Although the two look similar, they are designed for different forces and are not interchangeable. If you both play sports and grind your teeth, you may benefit from a separate guard for each. We are happy to help you determine exactly what you need so that your teeth are protected in every situation.
When Should You Replace Your Mouth Guard?
Even the best mouth guard does not last forever. Over time, the material can wear down, lose its shape, or develop tears that reduce its protective ability. For growing children and teens, fit can change quickly as new teeth come in and the jaw develops, so their guards may need to be replaced more often than an adult's. As a general rule, inspect your guard regularly for signs of wear, and bring it to your dental checkups so we can evaluate it. If it feels loose, looks damaged, or no longer fits comfortably, it is time for a new one. Replacing a worn guard is a small step that keeps your protection reliable season after season.
Protecting Active Glendale Families
Glendale is home to countless active families, student athletes, weekend warriors, and sports enthusiasts. Whether your child plays in a local youth league or you compete in adult recreational sports, protecting your smile should be part of your game-day routine. Our office makes it convenient for Glendale families to get custom guards for everyone in the household, and because we offer same-day emergency care, we are also here if an unexpected dental injury does occur. Pairing a custom mouth guard with quick access to emergency care gives active families real peace of mind.
Why Choose Infinite Dental Wellness
Infinite Dental Wellness is led by Dr. Leon Kiraj and Dr. Liana Muradyan, a USC-trained husband-and-wife team committed to gentle, comprehensive care for patients of all ages. Our practice is rated 4.9 stars on Google with more than 300 reviews, a reflection of the trust families place in us. We are a mercury-free office, we offer same-day emergency care, and we treat every patient like a member of our own family. When you come to us for a custom mouth guard, you receive a precisely fitted appliance and the assurance that your smile is well protected.
Get Your Custom Mouth Guard Today
Do not leave your smile to chance on the field or court. A custom mouth guard offers comfortable, reliable protection that lets you play hard with confidence. Call Infinite Dental Wellness in Glendale, CA at (818) 541-1110 to schedule an appointment and have a custom mouth guard made for you or your child. Protecting your winning smile starts with a simple phone call.