Preventing Mouthguard Fall-Outs: Why Mouthguards Fall Out

There are a few issues that may threaten the quality and protection of a mouthguard during any sport or activity, and one that's at or near the top of any such list is the mouthguard falling out. A mouthguard can't protect you if it's not in your mouth, and limiting any issues that may cause it to fall out is an important task for any athlete. 

At Damage Control Mouthguards, we're happy to offer custom mouthguard options for numerous sports and activities, from our MMA mouthguards to football, basketball, boxing and more. We've seen a number of reasons why mouthguards may fall out during activity -- why does this happen, what are some ways to prevent this, and what are some signs that your mouthguard fits properly and is not a major risk to fall out? We'll cover all these questions in this two-part blog series, starting with today's part one on why mouthguards typically fall out.

Poor Fit

If you're like most athletes, you aren't actively thinking about your mouthguard during gameplay or activity. You're instead focused on the competition taking place -- but if your mouthguard fits too loosely, you may encounter situations where it falls out while you're paying attention to something else.

This is common for athletes who haven't had a custom mouthguard made, and instead chose to buy something off the shelf in any retailer. A poorly fitting mouthguard also means it won't be able to protect you as effectively, so continuing to wear one that doesn't fit could mean giving up your sport entirely!

Instead, opt for a custom-fit mouthguard to ensure the best possible protection, fit and value. Don't have a custom mouthguard made? Learn about all of our options -- it's quick, easy and affordable!

Discomfort

On the flip side of this coin, some athletes will notice their mouthguard much more than they should -- largely because the mouthguard is uncomfortable and is bothering their mouth, jaw and gums. This can be due to any number of reasons, from the wrong material being used to a poor design that's causing pressure or sharp areas that are digging into your mouth.

Again, a custom-fit mouthguard is often a great solution here. A "stock" mouthguard isn't going to be the right fit for every athlete, and a custom-fit mouthguard is often more comfortable due to several factors -- including not having any sharp edges, catching or areas that may cause discomfort.

Improper Protection

Finally, an athlete who has sustained an injury they thought they were protected from by a mouthguard in the past may be hesitant to wear their mouthguard properly in the future. They may think that because a previous mouthguard didn't do the job, a new one isn't going to play a role in protecting them, either.

This is why educating athletes about the importance of wearing their mouthguard properly -- and taking the time to custom fit it for them -- is so critical. In many cases, a poorly fitting or improperly worn mouthguard won't protect an athlete from injury; a proper-fitting mouthguard, however, will.

In part two of our series, we'll go over some ways of confirming that your mouthguard is a great fit so fall-out risks aren't present. For more on this, or to learn about any of our custom mouthguards, speak to the staff at Damage Control Mouthguards today.