How to Properly Mold a Boil-and-Bite Mouthguard

We offer several different mouthguard types at Damage Control Mouthguards, including fully customizable options that can even include text of your choosing. We also offer a style known as “boil-and-bite,” one of the most common mouthguard styles on the market today – this refers to a mouthguard that you heat in hot water to help form it to either your mouth or the mouth of your child for protection during various sports or activities. Our Grip Guardoption is a good example of a boil-and-bite mouthguard.

If you determine that this mouthguard format is right for you or your child, it’s important to follow the right steps during the process of boiling and fitting the mouthguard. Let’s go over why this is an important area, plus the basic steps you should follow.

Why Fit Matters

A mouthguard that fits properly is an absolute must for all contact or intense sports and activities, particularly when children are involved. It protects not only the teeth it sits on, but also the gums, the lips, the tongue and other nearby areas. It’s so important, in fact, that the American Dental Association recommends that mouthguards are a standard piece of equipment for all athletes, even younger ones.

A mouthguard that does not fit properly, on the other hand, poses dangers. For starters, ill-fitting mouthguards are less likely to be worn by kids playing sports, leaving them susceptible to major oral damage. And for another, even when worn, a mouthguard that doesn’t fit well wont provide the same level of protection, and could even exacerbate certain risks.

Steps For Boiling and Fitting a High Impact Mouthguard or  Extreme Impact Mouthguard

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Pot or kettle
• Water
• Mouth Guard
• Tongs or similar retrieval device

1. Bring water to a boil
2. Carefully pour hot water into a bowl 
3. Place mouthguard into bowl for 25-35 seconds. (High Impact 25 seconds Extreme Impact for 30 seconds)
4. Get mirror to make sure mouthguard is aligned properly (especially if it has a design on it.)
5. Place mouthguard into mouth, and bite down and suck for 30 seconds push finger in outside of lips to put mouthguard around your teeth and gum line
6. Run mouthguard under cold water
7. Let mouthguard cool down for a period of 24 hours for the ultimate fit!
8. If unhappy with fit redo steps 1-7

For more on properly fitting a boil-and-bite mouthguard, or to learn about any of our custom mouthguard services, speak to the staff at Damage Control Mouthguards today.