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How To Mold And Clean A Mouth Guard For Football

4 min readHECTOR CAMACHO
american football player with a SLEEFS mouthguard with white gloves and white sleeveless hoodie

A contact sport like American football comes with a big risk of injury - especially to your teeth. Having a specially-made mouth guard can bring you a number of benefits, helping to protect you from oral injuries. 

There have been many studies on the importance of mouthguards in football. More than 56% of all traumatic brain injuries (concussions), and three-quarters of all orofacial injuries happened when the player wasn’t wearing a mouth guard. 

Wearing a mouthguard is an essential piece of kit for any football player. Help protect yourself from injuries with our guide to mold and clean a mouth guard for football. 

01

How does a mouth guard work for football?

Mouth guards are designed to protect your mouth and gums from impact. Acting as a form of shock absorber, a mouth guard will absorb the energy of a blow, dispersing it to reduce the impact on your mouth and skull. A properly fitted mouth guard will provide the necessary protection to keep you safe at practice, and on the field. 

02

How to mold a mouthguard for football

A mouth guard works best when it is molded to your mouth. This will help ensure you get the best protection. The good news is that it is easy to mold a mouthguard to give you a great fit. 

Tips for how do you mold a mouthguard for football all any kind of sports:

Make sure you have all the essentials

To mold your mouthguard you’ll need the mouth guard, some scissors, two bowls filled with hot and cold water, and a cloth or towel. 

Trim the mouth guard

Test the mouth guard by putting it in your mouth and biting down. See how it feels against your mouth and if it’s irritating you or making you gag, you can trim it with scissors - just remember to round the edges. 

Use boiling water to heat the mouth guard

When you’re happy with the fit, place the mouth guard in a bowl filled with boiling water. Allow it to submerge for 20 seconds until the mouth guard has softened.

03

Remove and place in your mouth to mold the shape of the mouth guard

  • Use a utensil to remove the mouth guard, being careful not to allow the sides to touch each other. Quickly place the mold in cold water for two seconds and blot it before placing it into your mouth. You can then work to mold the mouth guard to your front teeth, and then bite down to create impressions of your teeth. 
  • Tighten the mouth guard by applying pressure using your tongue to press the guard against your top teeth, gently sucking to ensure a snug fit. Keep the mouth guard still and wait 30-45 seconds for the mold to be created.
04

Set the mouth guard in cold water

Remove the mouth guard and put it into a bowl of cold water. Once the mold has cooled, try it to see how it fits. It should fit without having to hold it in place with your tongue, and sit comfortably on your bottom teeth. If the fit isn’t right, repeat the process again.

05

How to clean a mouth guard for football?

  • It’s important to clean and store your mouth guard carefully to keep it protected from bacteria and help prolong its life.
  • Use a toothbrush and toothpaste to clean your mouth guard before and after you use it. You can also rinse the mouth guard with soap and water regularly to further eliminate bacteria. 
  • Store your mouth guard in a case and keep it away from heat. Inspect your mouth guard regularly for signs of wear and tear and replace it as needed.

Looking for a stylish mouth guard to boost your protection? Take a look at SLF’s full selection of football mouth guards.