How to Fit a Boil & Bite Mouthguard

Contact sports often result in teeth injuries. In fact, dentists estimate that up to 39 percent of all dental injuries are sports related. You can have custom mouth guards made at your dentist office, but boil-and-bite mouth guards are also a convenient and cost-efficient way to protect your teeth. You can buy these mouth guards at most sporting goods stores, and you can custom fit them to your mouth at home in just a few minutes.

Things You'll Need

• Small pot
• Stove
• Water
• New mouth guard
• Tongs

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Instructions

• 1

  Pour water into a small pot until it is one-third full and put the pot on the stove.

• 2

  Turn on the stove to high heat and allow the water to boil.

• 3

  Drop the new mouth guard in the boiling water slowly. Leave the mouth guard in the boiling water for 10 seconds.

• 4

  Turn the stove off and use tongs to gently remove the guard from the pot.

• 5

  Place the guard on a clean surface and let it cool for 30 seconds.

• 6

  Place the mouth guard in your mouth and press your teeth together. Continue clenching your teeth for 30 seconds. As the rubber cools, it molds to the shape of your teeth.

• 7

  Take the guard out of your mouth and run it under cold water until it has completely cooled.

• 8

  Place the cooled mouth guard in your mouth to make sure it fits correctly.

• 9

  Turn the stove back on and repeat steps 3 through 8 if you do not like the fit of your mouth guard.