Hockey & Lacrosse Mouthguard Guide: Choosing a Custom Guard
Hockey and lacrosse have a lot in common: sticks, a hard puck or ball, body contact, and long shifts where you need to breathe and call out to teammates. Mouthguards help protect against chipped, cracked or knocked-out teeth in sports with a high risk of falls or contact, and hockey is one of them. This guide covers how to choose a guard for stick sports, what changes for youth players, and how teams order. To shop the guards directly, see hockey mouthguards or lacrosse mouthguards.
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. A custom guard does not slip or fall out, and it is easier to keep in for a full game. Custom guards usually cost more than over-the-counter options; what you pay for is that fit, comfort and durability.
Which model for hockey and lacrosse?
Every AlienGuard is custom-fit, so the choice is about coverage and profile.
- Origin Pro ($94.99): the most coverage. Our maximum-protection model, with extended teeth, gum and jaw coverage for high-contact sports. It can carry your logo, custom text or both, in one color or two to three colors in stripes or a marbled finish.
- Origin (from $74.99): reinforced impact zones. Our combat guard for contact-heavy play. Origin is the model where you choose the thickness: 4 mm for sports where hits are less direct, or 5 mm, which absorbs more force from direct, heavy hits. Add text or a logo for $114.99, or full custom art (Apex) for $134.99.
- NanoBite ($64.99): the slimmest profile. Ultra-slim and low profile, and the best of our models for breathing and talking, which helps on long shifts and when you are calling for the puck or a slide. It can carry colors and text.
Not sure which one fits how you play? Compare all four in the model comparison, read the sizing and fit guide, or contact us and we will help you pick a model and thickness.
Why fit matters on the ice and the field
A guard that shifts after a check or a fall ends up in your hand instead of your mouth. Because a custom guard is formed on a model of your own bite, it is more comfortable and secure than a stock guard and does not slip or fall out. Custom guards are thin and precise, so most athletes breathe and talk normally while wearing one. Read more in our post on custom mouthguards for hockey players.
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
Origin and Origin Pro can carry your team colors, custom text and your logo. Add a name label inside the guard so every player's guard is easy to find in a crowded locker room or equipment bag.
Ordering for a whole team
Coaches, clubs and schools 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).
More on team programs: custom mouthguards for gyms and teams.
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 in cool water before and after each use. Brush gently with a soft toothbrush and mild soap, not toothpaste, which is abrasive and can scratch and dull the guard. For a deeper clean, soak it in an effervescent denture or retainer tablet in cool water as the label directs, then rinse. Air-dry in a ventilated case, and keep it away from hot water, dishwashers, hot cars and direct sun, so it keeps its shape. No mouthwash, alcohol or bleach. We recommend replacing it every year, or sooner if it is damaged or worn. Choose Impression Storage when you build, and we keep your model on file so a replacement does not need a new impression.