Football Mouthguard Guide: Choosing a Custom-Fit Guard
Football puts contact into almost every snap, so your mouthguard has two jobs: stay in through the hit, and stay comfortable enough that you actually keep it in between plays. This guide covers how to choose one, what changes for youth players, and how teams order. For a quick look at the guards themselves, see our football mouthguards collection.
Stock, boil-and-bite or custom?
Stock guards are pre-formed and offer basic protection. Boil-and-bite guards are softened in hot water and bitten into for a closer fit. Custom-fit guards, like AlienGuards, are made from an impression of your own teeth, which gives the most comfortable and secure fit. Custom guards usually cost more than over-the-counter options. What you get for it is a guard that does not slip or fall out and is easier to wear for a whole practice. Read more in which mouthguard is right for contact sports.
Choosing a model for football
For football, our pick is NanoBite ($64.99). It is our team-sports guard, made for football, wrestling, BJJ, hockey, basketball, lacrosse and soccer. It is our slimmest guard and the best of our models for breathing and talking, so players can call signals and breathe between plays, and it can be customized with colors and text.
Origin and Origin Pro are our combat guards, built for boxing, MMA, Muay Thai and kickboxing. Compare all models in the model comparison, and check thickness in the sizing and fit guide.
Youth and high school players
Tell us the athlete's age when you build. Younger players' teeth are still changing, so plan to replace their guard more often. If a player wears braces or a retainer, or has loose teeth, talk to your dentist before taking an impression. Parents can find more in our guide to custom mouthguards for kids and youth athletes.
Team colors, names and numbers
NanoBite can carry your team colors and custom text. A name or number on every guard makes it easy to sort out whose is whose on the sideline, like the named guards above.
Ordering for a whole roster
Coaches, schools and programs can order through the AlienGuards Association:
- 20% off mouthguards and merch (excluding NanoBite and PowerBite), with a minimum order of 5 mouthguards.
- Your team logo plus athlete names or numbers on every guard.
- On-site fitting to help every athlete take a good impression (minimum order and location apply).
- Models kept on file for quick replacements (minimum order; athletes 14+ without braces).
How ordering works
- Build and order. Pick your model, colors and custom logo or text. We ship you an impression kit.
- Take your impression. Follow the impression guide at home. It takes about 10 minutes and the putty sets in 2 minutes 30 seconds. Then mail the impression back to our lab.
- We make it. Your guard is formed on a plaster model of your bite, pressure-formed from dental-grade material and finished by hand in the USA. It is crafted within 10–14 business days after we receive a good impression.
Orders ship via USPS First-Class Mail with tracking, which usually arrives within five to seven days in the US (longer during holidays). International orders ship via USPS First Class International, with an estimated 15–20 days. See the shipping policy. Not sure your impression worked? Email a photo to support@alienguards.com and we will tell you if it can be used.
Care through the season
Rinse your guard before and after each use, brush it gently with a soft toothbrush, and store it in a ventilated case. Keep it away from heat, including hot cars, dishwashers and boiling water, so it keeps its shape. Replace it every year, or sooner if it is damaged or worn.