Sports mouthguards cost $10–$500 depending on the type. Stock mouthguards from sporting goods stores run $10–$20. Boil-and-bite guards cost $15–$30. Custom-fitted mouthguards from a dentist cost $150–$500. For athletes in contact sports, the American Dental Association recommends wearing a mouthguard at all times during athletic activity — and custom guards provide superior protection and compliance compared to cheaper alternatives.
| Mouthguard Type | Cost |
|---|---|
| Stock (pre-formed) mouthguard | $10–$20 |
| Boil-and-bite mouthguard | $15–$30 |
| Professional boil-and-bite (heavy-duty) | $30–$50 |
| Custom mouthguard from dentist (EVA) | $150–$300 |
| Custom mouthguard (laminated/multi-layer) | $200–$500 |
| Custom mouthguard for braces (orthodontic) | $150–$400 |
| Online custom mouthguard | $75–$150 |
What Affects Sports Mouthguard Cost
Type (stock vs. boil-and-bite vs. custom). The fundamental distinction. Stock guards are one-size-fits-all with no adaptation — uncomfortable and often don’t stay in place. Boil-and-bite guards improve on this with thermal adaptation to your teeth. Custom guards are fabricated from professional impressions and provide the best fit, retention, and protection.
Material and construction. Standard single-layer EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate) guards range from 3–4mm thick. Multi-layer laminated guards (a harder outer layer and softer inner layer) provide better force absorption and are used for higher-risk sports. Pro-grade guards used in boxing and martial arts may use dual-density or triple-layer constructions.
Sport type. High-contact sports (boxing, MMA, football, hockey, lacrosse, rugby) justify more expensive and higher-performance custom guards. Medium-contact sports (basketball, soccer, baseball) benefit from custom fit but may not require the heaviest construction.
Whether you have braces. Athletes wearing braces need specially designed orthodontic mouthguards with extra internal space to accommodate brackets and archwires. Off-the-shelf guards often don’t fit over braces and can damage brackets. Custom orthodontic mouthguards are wider internally to fit over fixed appliances.
Types of Mouthguards
Stock Mouthguards ($10–$20): Pre-formed, one-size-fits-all. No customization possible. Held in place by biting — must keep jaw clenched for the guard to stay in. Uncomfortable, restricts breathing and speech, and provides the least protection of any mouthguard type. The ADA recommends against these for serious athletes. Acceptable only as a temporary solution while waiting for a better option.
Boil-and-Bite Guards ($15–$30): Thermoplastic material softened in boiling water, shaped to the teeth by biting into the softened material. Provides a basic custom-like fit. Better retention than stock guards. Quality varies widely between brands — higher-end boil-and-bite guards ($25–$50) from brands like Shock Doctor or Under Armour provide meaningfully better protection than budget options. Suitable for recreational athletes in medium-contact sports.
Custom Guards from a Dentist ($150–$500): Fabricated from a professional dental impression or digital scan. Precisely fit to every contour of your teeth and gums. Stays in place without biting, allowing normal breathing and communication. 3–4x thicker at impact zones than boil-and-bite guards. Research consistently shows higher athlete compliance with custom guards due to superior comfort. The most effective protection for contact sports.
Online Custom Mouthguards ($75–$150): Home impression kit sent to your home; lab-fabricated custom guard returned by mail. Services like Mouth Guard Store or Impact Guard offer this at $75–$150. Fit quality is better than boil-and-bite but depends on impression accuracy. A practical middle-ground for recreational athletes.
Custom mouthguards from a dentist reduce the risk of dental trauma (chipped teeth, knocked-out teeth, jaw fractures) far more effectively than boil-and-bite alternatives. A dental injury requiring crown replacement or implant placement costs $1,500–$5,000 per tooth. A $200–$300 custom mouthguard is among the best dental insurance investments an athlete can make.
Mouthguards for Athletes with Braces
Athletes wearing braces face unique challenges: brackets and archwires protrude from the tooth surface and can lacerate the lips and cheeks if compressed by a mouthguard. Standard guards are too tight-fitting for use over braces.
Options for athletes with braces:
Orthodontic boil-and-bite guards ($20–$35): Brands like Shock Doctor’s Braces Guard have internal channels that fit over brackets. More space internally than standard guards. Limited protection compared to custom.
Custom orthodontic mouthguard ($150–$400): Made from impressions over the existing braces. The most protective option during orthodontic treatment. Requires periodic replacement as the teeth move (typically every 6 months during active treatment).
Important: As teeth shift during orthodontic treatment, custom guards will become progressively less fitting. Plan for replacement every 6 months during active treatment, or use a new boil-and-bite guard periodically adjusted as needed.
Mouthguard Protection by Sport
| Sport | Injury Risk | Recommended Guard |
|---|---|---|
| Football | High | Custom (required at most levels) |
| Hockey | High | Custom |
| Boxing/MMA | Very High | Custom heavy-duty or dual-layer |
| Rugby | High | Custom |
| Lacrosse | High | Custom |
| Basketball | Moderate | Boil-and-bite or custom |
| Soccer | Moderate | Boil-and-bite or custom |
| Baseball | Moderate | Boil-and-bite or custom |
| Volleyball | Low-Moderate | Boil-and-bite |
| Gymnastics | Low-Moderate | Custom for high-level athletes |
Insurance Coverage
Sports mouthguards are generally not covered by dental insurance as a preventive device for healthy teeth. Coverage exceptions:
- Some plans cover custom mouthguards for patients with specific conditions (bruxism, TMJ, prior dental trauma history)
- When a custom mouthguard is prescribed following a documented dental injury, it may be covered under the major services benefit
- School-sponsored athletic programs sometimes negotiate bulk mouthguard provision with local dental practices
FSA/HSA: Sports mouthguards prescribed by a dentist may qualify as an FSA-eligible expense when there is a documented dental health reason. Pure athletic performance guards without a health diagnosis may require a Letter of Medical Necessity for FSA reimbursement. Check with your FSA administrator.
Financing Options
Sports mouthguards typically cost $10–$500 — an amount that most athletes pay at the time of service or purchase. No special financing is typically needed. Pay with FSA card if FSA-eligible to save 22–37% in taxes.
For athletes needing multiple custom mouthguards (e.g., a child in active orthodontic treatment needing seasonal replacement guards), bundling the mouthguard cost with the orthodontic treatment plan at the same office may allow the fee to be folded into the orthodontic payment plan.
Athletes with orthodontic braces must not use a standard tight-fitting mouthguard, as it can damage brackets, pull wires, and cause injury to the lips and cheeks from bracket compression. Use an orthodontic-specific guard with internal clearance for brackets at all times during active orthodontic treatment.
How to Save on a Sports Mouthguard
Use a boil-and-bite for lower-risk recreational sports. A quality Shock Doctor or Under Armour boil-and-bite guard at $25–$35 provides adequate protection for recreational basketball, soccer, or volleyball without the custom investment.
Invest in custom for contact sports. For football, hockey, boxing, or martial arts, the custom guard’s superior fit and retention is worth the $150–$300 investment. One dental injury from inadequate protection costs far more.
Online custom guards for budget-conscious athletes. A $75–$150 online custom guard from a home impression kit is a reasonable option for medium-contact sports athletes who want custom fit at lower cost.
Ask about orthodontic package bundles. If your child is getting braces and plays contact sports, ask whether the orthodontist can include or discount a custom orthodontic mouthguard in the braces treatment fee.
Bottom Line
Sports mouthguards range from $10 for basic stock guards to $500 for professional-grade custom appliances. For contact sports, a custom guard from a dentist at $150–$300 provides the best protection, compliance, and value. Boil-and-bite guards at $15–$30 are appropriate for recreational or low-contact sports. Athletes with braces need orthodontic-specific guards. The cost of any mouthguard is trivially small compared to the $1,500–$5,000 cost of treating a single traumatic dental injury.
A $200 custom mouthguard that prevents one chipped tooth saves $500–$1,500 in restorative cost. For contact sports athletes — especially children and teens in organized sports — a custom mouthguard from a dentist is among the most cost-effective dental investments available. Don’t skip it to save $180 on a boil-and-bite.