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...