Last Updated on August 10, 2026 by Dr. Adam Veit
Custom Sports Mouthguards
A custom mouthguard is made from a scan or impression of your own teeth, so it fits only you. Bright Orthodontics makes them for athletes of every age, including patients wearing braces, where a store bought guard simply will not seat properly. Ask us at any appointment.
Wisconsin kids play hard, in every season. Basketball in a school gym in February, baseball in June, hockey, wrestling, soccer, football. A broken front tooth takes minutes to happen and years to fully repair, and it is one of the few orthodontic setbacks that is genuinely preventable.
Why Braces Change the Mouthguard Question
A boil and bite guard from a sporting goods store works by molding to the shape of your teeth. That is exactly the problem once brackets are bonded on.
The guard grips the brackets rather than the teeth. It can pull on them, it does not sit flush, and it usually ends up loose enough that the athlete takes it out. It also cannot protect the inside of the lips and cheeks from the brackets themselves, which is where a surprising share of sports injuries in orthodontic patients actually happen.
A guard made for a mouth with braces is built differently. There is room over the appliances, the fit comes from the arch rather than from gripping hardware, and it stays in place while your teeth continue to move underneath it.
How We Make Yours
- A scan or impression. A few minutes in the chair, usually added onto an appointment you were already coming to.
- Fabrication. The guard is made to that model, in a thickness suited to the sport.
- A fit check. You come back, we make sure it seats properly and does not interfere with speaking or breathing, and we adjust it if it needs it.
If you are already a patient here, mention it at your next visit and we will fold it in.
Which Sports Need One
Any sport with contact, a hard ball, a stick, a bat or a floor to fall on. That includes the obvious ones, football, hockey, wrestling, basketball, soccer and lacrosse, and several that people forget, such as skateboarding, mountain biking, gymnastics and competitive cheer.
If your athlete is in braces, the case for a mouthguard is stronger, not weaker. A collision that would have chipped a tooth without braces can also damage the appliances and add time to treatment. See braces and appliance care for what to do if hardware is damaged, and orthodontic emergency care if something happens tonight.
Looking After It
- Rinse it in cool water after every use, then let it dry before it goes back in its case.
- Clean it with a toothbrush and a little toothpaste, the same way you would clean a retainer.
- Keep it away from heat. Hot water, a car dashboard in July and a gym bag in direct sun will all warp it.
- Bring it to your orthodontic appointments so we can check the fit as your teeth move.
- Never leave it loose in a bag, and never let anyone else wear it.
Request an appointment at our Oshkosh, Fond du Lac, Ripon or Berlin office, or simply ask at your next visit. Fees for treatment and how insurance applies are explained on our orthodontic financing page.
Protect the Smile You Are Paying For
Orthodontic treatment is an investment of time and money. A mouthguard is the cheapest insurance you can put on it.
Request an appointment at Bright Orthodontics in Oshkosh, Fond du Lac, Ripon or Berlin, or mention it at your next adjustment.
Reviewed by Dr. Adam J. Veit, DDS, MS, a board-certified orthodontist and the treating doctor at all four Bright Orthodontics offices.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if my child already has a mouthguard from the sporting goods store?
Bring it in, and we will look at it with the braces in place. Sometimes it is usable for a season. More often, it either will not seat over the brackets, or it is being left in the bag because it is uncomfortable, which protects nobody.
Will my child need a new mouthguard once the braces come off?
Usually yes. The whole point of a custom guard is that it matches the teeth as they are, and after treatment, the teeth are in a different place. It is a good moment to have one made that will last, since the teeth are now being held steady by a retainer.
How long does a custom mouthguard last?
It depends on the athlete, the sport, and how much growing is still happening. Children outgrow them faster than adults wear them out. Bring it to your appointments, and we will tell you when it is time.
Can you make one if we are not orthodontic patients here?
Get in touch and ask. Contact your nearest office and we will tell you what is involved.