A mouthguard is personal protective equipment (PPE), and like any protective equipment, it only works properly if it's in good condition and fits well. As mouthguard specialists for over 30 years, we know what to look out for to make sure your child's current mouthguard is providing the top level of protection and whether it might be time for a replacement.
How Do I Know If My Child's Mouthguard Needs Replacing?
It's a good idea to run your finger along the edges from time to time. Rough spots, sharp edges, or fraying material can rub against your child's gums and cheeks during play, so if your child mentions their mouthguard is hurting, rubbing, or catching on their cheek, don't brush it off as them just not liking it. Often they'll feel a rough edge before you can spot it just by looking, so it's worth checking by touch as soon as they mention it.
Why Does My Child's Mouthguard Keep Falling Out?
A well-fitted mouthguard should stay in place on its own. Your child shouldn't have to clench or bite down to keep it there. If it slips or falls out more than before, the fit has changed and it isn't protecting as well as it should.
Difficulty speaking is another sign. It's normal for your child to need a short adjustment period with a new mouthguard. But if they still struggle to speak clearly after a few weeks or months, especially in team sports where talking to teammates is important, the fit has likely changed. They probably don't need to "get used to it."
Sore spots or pressure points that weren't there before are worth listening to as well. That usually means the guard has warped or shrunk slightly and is no longer sitting evenly.
Why Is My Child Struggling to Breathe or Talk in Their Mouthguard?
Your child should still be able to breathe comfortably through their nose while wearing the mouthguard. If they're mouth-breathing more than usual, or say they feel out of breath during play, it's worth checking whether the guard has become too bulky or sits too far back in the mouth, both signs it's grown too small for their mouth or needs refitting.
Take any new complaints seriously. If your child suddenly doesn't want to wear the mouthguard or mentions new discomfort, something about the fit or condition has changed, even if you can't see anything wrong.
If your child gags, feels nauseous, or drools a lot while wearing the mouthguard, it usually means the guard has shifted or warped enough to trigger the gag reflex.
How Often Should You Replace a Child's Mouthguard?
Children's mouths change quickly. Teeth move, new ones come in, and jaws grow, often before a mouthguard looks worn out. That's why OPRO recommends replacing a growing child's mouthguard once a year, instead of waiting for visible damage. If your child loses a baby tooth or a new one comes through, check the fit straight away rather than waiting for the next annual check. Even if a guard still looks fine, the teeth underneath it may have moved enough that it no longer fits properly.
Teenagers whose teeth have mostly settled still benefit from an annual check, even if their jaw isn't changing as fast as a younger child's. It's easy to assume a mouthguard that still looks fine is still doing its job, but growth spurts can affect the jaw even in later teens, so OPRO recommends yearly replacement as standard practice rather than waiting for signs of a problem.
If braces are fitted, a standard mouthguard should be swapped for a braces-specific mouthguard straight away, not just refitted later. Brackets can catch on a standard guard, damaging the material and causing discomfort, so a braces mouthguard, designed with extra room to accommodate brackets and allow for tooth movement, is essential for the full course of treatment.
Why Does My Child's Mouthguard Smell or Look Discoloured?
If a smell won't go away even after regular cleaning, it usually means bacteria has worked its way into the material itself, a sign it's time to replace rather than keep cleaning. Fortunately this is far less likely to happen to OPRO mouthguards, as they come with antimicrobial protection as standard, which inhibits the growth of bacteria by up to 99.99%.
Some colour change over time is normal. But if the change is significant, it could mean bacteria is building up or the material is starting to break down.
The same goes for texture. If the mouthguard feels sticky or slimy and cleaning doesn't fix it, that's a sign it needs to be replaced.
When Should I Replace My Child's Mouthguard? The Bottom Line
When in doubt, replace the mouthguard. A new one costs much less than a dental injury, whether you think about money, time, or how much your child might worry about their next dentist visit.
That's why every OPRO mouthguard comes with a dental warranty as standard. You have that reassurance from the start, without needing to think about it separately.
In the end, the best protection is a mouthguard your child feels comfortable wearing. That's the one they will actually use.
