Fitting a child’s mouthguard can sometimes be tricky, especially when the mouthguard and fitting tray feel bulky together, or there are gaps where baby teeth have fallen out. OPRO’s founder, dentist Dr Anthony Lovat, has helped people fit mouthguards for decades. Here, he explains how to make fitting easier for smaller mouths and how to adapt the fit as adult teeth come through.

Why does my child’s mouthguard feel too big during fitting?

Watch Dr Lovat explain why positioning a mouthguard and fitting tray can be difficult in a smaller mouth, and how a little practice can help.

If your child is struggling to fit their mouthguard because it feels too big, it may be the combination of the mouthguard and fitting tray that is making it difficult to get everything into position.

Dr Lovat recommends practising with the tray before starting the fitting process. Let your child put it into their mouth a few times so they become familiar with how it feels.

Try rotating the tray into the mouth from the side. Dr Lovat explains that this can make it easier to position than trying to insert it straight from the front.

When you come to fit the mouthguard, make sure it is pushed firmly down into the tray before placing it in your child’s mouth. Follow the fitting instructions for your OPRO mouthguard throughout the process.

Remember, age ranges are a guide. Children’s mouths and teeth develop at different rates, so if you are unsure whether you have the right size, our customer services team can help.

How do I fit a mouthguard when my child is losing baby teeth?

In this second video, Dr Lovat talks through fitting a mouthguard around gaps left by baby teeth and adapting it as adult teeth emerge.

As children grow, baby teeth fall out, and there can be gaps before adult teeth come through. Dr Lovat describes this period of changing teeth as the mixed dentition stage. Those gaps can make it harder to achieve a snug mouthguard fit.

His advice is to follow the fitting instructions closely, helping the mouthguard mould around the teeth your child currently has.

Keep hold of the fitting tool supplied with the mouthguard. As adult teeth start to come through, you can use it to remould the mouthguard and adapt the fit to their changing teeth.

Dr Lovat explains that being able to remould the mouthguard matters because children’s mouths change as they grow. Check the fit as their teeth develop, and contact our customer services team if you cannot achieve a secure fit.

Still struggling to fit your child’s mouthguard? Our Precision Fit Guarantee

If you are unsure about sizing or still having difficulty fitting your child’s mouthguard, get in touch with our customer services team. Through our Precision Fit Guarantee, we will help you get the fit right.

Before you begin, remember to:

• Let your child practise positioning the fitting tray.
• Follow the instructions for their specific OPRO mouthguard.
• Keep the fitting tool so you can remould as their teeth develop.

For help with overheating or a mouthguard that feels loose after fitting, read Dr Lovat’s advice on common mouthguard fitting problems.