If you're just starting out with hockey, you'll quickly hear from your coach that you should buy a mouthguard. But why exactly?
In this article, you'll learn what functions a hockey mouthguard has, what to look out for when buying one, and how to mould it to your teeth.
Why is a mouthguard necessary for hockey?
Mouthguards drastically reduce the risk of dental damage and injuries to your lips and tongue.
Thanks to the shock-absorbing material, the impact force of hard blows from the stick, ball or a hard fall is distributed evenly across your teeth and jaw, reducing the effect.
In addition, the mouthguard covers your teeth, giving you a protective layer between your teeth and your lips, tongue and cheeks. This significantly reduces the risk of cuts and other injuries.
If you play hockey without a mouthguard, you risk:
- Cuts to your lips or cheeks
- Broken teeth
- Damage to your fillings or tooth enamel
- Bruising or fractures to the jaw
So it's important that you always wear a mouthguard to avoid accidents.
What should you look out for when choosing a hockey mouthguard?
First of all, it's important to know that all the mouthguards we sell are suitable for playing hockey. Where most people make mistakes is not paying attention to the age category of the mouthguard they're ordering.
Hockey mouthguards come in two sizes:
- Junior mouthguards: These are suitable for children up to 11 years
- Adult mouthguards: These are suitable from 11 years upwards
Looking for a junior mouthguard? Click here to view the mouthguards for children.
Need an adult mouthguard? Click here to view all mouthguards for adults.
Otherwise, you can choose any mouthguard you like. All the mouthguards we sell meet the safety requirements and are suitable for playing hockey.
How do you mould a mouthguard for a perfect fit?
You can't use a hockey mouthguard straight out of the packaging. You first need to mould the mouthguard to your teeth. When you buy a mouthguard, you'll always receive instructions to help you with the fitting. Always follow the instructions exactly for your specific mouthguard.
The general steps are as follows:
- Bring water to the boil.
- Pour the water into a glass/cup and wait 20–30 seconds before the next step.
- Place the mouthguard in the water to soak. How long this should take depends on the brand and model of your mouthguard. So always read the instructions before you carry out this step.
- Carefully remove the mouthguard from the water with a fork (be careful, it's hot) and let it cool briefly.
- Put the mouthguard in your mouth and press it against your teeth with your fingers. If the mouthguard is still too hot, remove it immediately to avoid burns.
- Bite down on the mouthguard and suck on it at the same time so it fits snugly to your teeth. Do this for 20–30 seconds.
- Take the mouthguard out of your mouth and cool it in cold water for 20–30 seconds.
If the mouthguard doesn't fit properly, you can repeat the steps until it fits. Make sure hot water is kept away from children and carry out the steps carefully to avoid accidents.
Need a new mouthguard or does your old one need replacing?
You can view all our mouthguards for hockey here.