Do your kids actually wear their sports mouthguards?

Not just your kid, trust me. My son plays hockey and I swear that mouthguard is either dangling from his helmet or being chewed like gum half the time. I used to get so frustrated, especially after paying for a custom one, but it’s honestly become a running joke in our house. I think it’s a universal struggle - at least from what I see at the rink.

We tried a couple things. Letting him pick out the color helped a little (he went with some wild neon green), but mostly it’s just reminders before practice and games. Sometimes his coach will call them out if he spots a mouthguard out of place, which seems to work better than anything I say at home. Peer pressure for the win, I guess.

One thing that did help was getting one that fit better. The cheap boil-and-bite ones were uncomfortable, so he just wanted it out of his mouth the whole time. Once we got one molded at the dentist, it actually stayed in more. Still not perfect, but less chewing.

Honestly, I don’t think there’s a magic fix. I try to keep it light and just remind him why it matters - he saw a teammate lose a tooth last season, and that seemed to make an impression. But yeah, I’d say most kids mess around with them. If you find a trick that works 100% of the time, let me know…

I try to keep it light and just remind him why it matters - he saw a teammate lose a tooth last season, and that seemed to make an impression.

That’s exactly my worry. My daughter just started soccer, and I’m already stressed about her not wearing the mouthguard right. She complains every time that it’s “too big” or “makes her gag.” I get that the fit matters, but honestly, even after getting one at the dentist, she still finds reasons to take it out. Maybe I’m overthinking it, but the idea of her losing a tooth or worse just makes me anxious.

I know some parents say kids will learn after seeing an injury, but I can’t just wait for that to happen. I’m probably more strict than most - I’ll stop practice if I see her without it, which embarrasses her but at least keeps her safe (I hope). Peer pressure helps, but I still feel like the only one worrying this much. Maybe I need to chill out a bit, but until she actually wears it without fussing, I can’t relax. Does anyone else feel this paranoid?

I totally get where you’re coming from - my mom used to basically threaten to wrap my whole head in bubble wrap if I didn’t wear mine during basketball. I had braces at the time, so the mouthguard felt like stuffing a shoe in my mouth. I’d “accidentally” drop it on the gym floor more times than I can count, hoping maybe she’d just let it go if it looked gross enough. Didn’t work.

Honestly, I don’t think you’re being paranoid. Dental drama is no joke. I chipped a tooth once (not even during sports - tripped over my own feet at home), and the dentist bill made my mom more dramatic than my actual injury. Still, I get how embarrassing it is for your kid when you call them out in front of everyone. Have you tried those boil-and-bite ones you can trim down? Or is it just a lost cause with comfort for some kids? Sometimes I wonder if they ever actually get used to them or if it’s just something we all complain about forever...

I totally get where you’re coming from - my mom used to basically threaten to wrap my whole head in bubble wrap if I didn’t wear mine during basketball.

Bubble wrap would probably be more comfortable than some of those mouthguards, honestly. My kid tried the boil-and-bite ones, but even after trimming, she said it felt “weird and huge.” She’ll wear it for the first five minutes, then I spot her fiddling with it on the bench. I get the dental bills thing - one chipped tooth and suddenly the mouthguard seems like a bargain, but convincing her is another story. Maybe it’s just something they have to get used to, or maybe some kids never do.

That “weird and huge” feeling is so real - my son used to act like the mouthguard was some kind of medieval torture device. I get it, though. Those boil-and-bite ones never fit quite right, even after you trim them down and try to smooth out the edges. We finally caved and got a custom one from the dentist. Not cheap, but he actually wears it now without fussing (well, most of the time). It’s wild how much difference a better fit can make. Still, I think some kids just can’t stand having anything in their mouths for long...

It’s wild how much difference a better fit can make.

Totally agree with this - my daughter was the same way. She’d gag or just chew on the boil-and-bite ones, and it turned into a whole standoff before every practice. The custom one from the dentist was pricey, but honestly, it was the only thing that worked for us. Some kids really are just sensitive to that feeling, I guess. At least now she actually keeps it in and I don’t have to nag her constantly. Worth it, even if my wallet still hurts a bit...