8 Best ice hockey mouthguards (2022) + tips to choose

With the puck flying fast and the stick moving all around, ice hockey can be dangerous for your teeth.
Wearing a mouthguard is essential. 
But which one? There are so many to choose from...
Below is my guide with the answers to your questions, the criteria to choose the best option for you and my selection of the best hockey mouthguards to consider.

This article may contain affiliate Links (info on the Disclosure page). If you purchase using my link, I get a commission at no extra cost to you.

Best hockey mouthguards - summary

Ice hockey has many benefits. Wearing good protection limits the few negatives.
The mouthguard is an essential piece of equipment when playing ice hockey at any age.
You can choose a protection that is:

• resistant
• comfortable
• easy to clean
• with good shock absorption

It will prevent chipped or lost teeth, as well as soft tissue damage, in case of impact with a puck or a stick (they move quite high!).

In the following article, I will enter into details about the criteria to choose the best mouth guard options for you.
But let's start with an overview of my section of the best options to consider. Detailed reviews come further down in the article.

Absolute best hockey mouthguards - professional use

The absolute one is made by a dental specialist based on your dental imprint taken by your dentist. This is what professionals do.

Another way to have a custom mouthguard for cheaper, is to purchase an Impact custom one. They send you a kit to create the imprint, and once they receive it, they will create the guard custom to your mouth. However, it is not as ideal as the dental specialist's one as you take the imprint yourself without someone guiding you.

Best mouth-formed guards - Boil & Bite

4 different brands for you to consider. 

• Half-custom fit for better protection than stock guards
• Comfortable 
• Good value for protection, if you can't get custom ones
• The Guardlab product has a new development to improve even more the fit

Best hockey mouthguards for braces

For kids wearing braces, it is essential to purchase models that have been created especially for braces.
The material is a little softer and the shape adapted.

Mouthguards for those who have difficulty

Finally, if the player is having difficulty wearing a mouthguard:

• feeling like he/she can't breathe
• having headaches

Consider a system that is designed to breathe better. It is a little bigger but allows more airflow.

Mouthguard case

And if your guard does not come with a case, make sure to purchase one so that it lasts longer!

Ice Hockey Mouth Protections - FAQs

Before I list the most important criteria to help you choose your mouthguard and review the ones selected above, let me answer your most frequently asked questions about mouth protections for ice hockey.

Why wear a mouthguard when playing hockey?

A mouthguard is a useful protection when playing many sports.
In the case of hockey, the player can receive a puck or a stick in the face during the heat of the action. The pucks do travel fast!
A mouth guard protects:

• The teeth - this is the primary function of the guard
• The jaw - the jaw can be hit too. It does not protect the entire jaw, but as it absorbs the shock in can reduce jaw injuries.

When to wear it

At practice and during a game.
But also ,when practicing off-ice with a puck and sticks with friends on a shooting pad.

Do mouthguards actually work?

For teeth and jaws protection, yes. Scientific studies have demonstrated that they reduce the injuries.
Wearing a mouthguard reduces the number of fractured teeth.
According to the American Dental organization (ADA), an athlete is 60 times more likely to suffer harm to the teeth when not wearing a mouthguard (source)

Do mouthguards prevent concussion?

One of the most frequent question asked by hockey parents is: do mouthguards prevent concussions.
As of today, no scientific study has concluded that they would be effective (either standard or fitted).

Maybe, if the blow is at a certain angle, the shock absorption could reduce the cranial impact. However, your best bet for protection is the helmet and a good maintenance of this helmet (don't forget that each impact reduces its effectiveness).

There is no study proving that, and it would depend on the position of the blow. But in certain instance, the shock absorption could reduce the internal cranial shock.

Is a hockey mouthguard the same as for other sports?

There is no specific requirement compared to other sports.
The most important is that it fits the mouth properly (see criteria in next section).

Should young kids wear mouthguards?

Considering kids do not have they definitive teeth, parents may wonder if wearing a mouthguard is a good idea and if it can have a negative impact on the dental structure.
Here are some points to consider:

• Losing a baby tooth prematurely can impact the child’s permanent tooth afterwards - the baby teeth help guide the adult teeth into the correct position
• It reduces the impact on the jaw and the foundations on which the permanent teeth do grow
• I have not seen any counter-recommendations for wearing a mouthguard young. Most designs start for kids age 6 or 7. However morphology of the mouth can vary a lot at this age. If pre-made guards do not fit properly, check with your dentist. He may create a special custom one.

How to get a child to wear a mouthguard?

Let's be honest, wearing a mouthguard is not the most enjoyable part of sport. But it is essential.
As a hockey mother, to help your kid wear one consider:

• First make sure it fits properly. A bad fit makes it very uncomfortable
• Choosing his/her favorite color - most brands offer many colors and cool designs
• Show his/her favorite NHL player wearing a mouthguard
• Add flavor to the mouthguard
• Choose a version with an extra opening for airflow, if he/she feels like breathing is difficult 

Note - if choosing a boil and bite protection for a kid, it may not hold naturally to the teeth like the adult versions do.  It is because children' teeth have less surface area to grip. 

How often should a mouthguard be changed?

Mouthguards should be changed:

• at least every year (length of most warranties)
• if there is wear and tear
• if the kid has grown significantly during the season

Best to bring it to your dentist to get his/her opinion.

What are the Official Rules? 

USA Hockey Rulebook
Rule 304 protective equipment (f) - source
"All players, including goalkeepers, in the 12 & under (Youth and Girls’) through Youth 18 & under (including High School) and Girls’ 19 & under age classifications are required to wear a colored (non-clear) internal mouthpiece that covers all the remaining teeth of one jaw, customarily the upper. It is strongly recommended, in all classifications, that all players wear a mouthpiece form fitted by a dentist."

Hockey Canada Rule book
Rule 3.6 Protective equipment (g) - source
"For divisions of hockey that allow the wearing of the half visor, the wearing of a mouth guard is compulsory (recommended but optional for Senior hockey). When a player fails to properly wear a mouth guard at any time on the ice during the game, their team shall receive one warning. Any player on that team who commits a subsequent infraction will receive a Misconduct penalty. Referees are encouraged to deliver this warning directly to the Coach. "

How many NHL players wear them?

At the moment there are not rules that force NHL players to wear a mouthguard.
However, each NHL team has custom mouthguards molded specifically for each player.
It seems that 60% of player are wearing them, an increasing trend.
Broken teeth are not a cool factor anymore.

Read more hockey quotes and sayings

How to choose an ice hockey mouthguard - criteria

Types of mouthguards

There are 3 main types of mouthguards you can consider purchasing:

• Stock mouth guards
  Models you can buy where one size fits all (well 2 or 3 sizes: youth / adults) and start using right away 
  Pros - direct use upon receiving, cheaper
  Cons - not-customizable, less effective, limits breathing (as the player needs to hold it in place)
• Mouth-formed (a.k.a. Boil and Bite)
  Most common type of mouth protectors. System to customize a little to the teeth layout.
  Process 1- Boil and Bite - Made of thermoplastic, they can be boiled to soften the material so that it molds to the teeth
  Process 2 - Shell-liner -made of acrylic material -it is poured into an outer shell, creating a lining that is molded with the player's mouth.
  Pros - good middle ground, partially customized
  Cons - limited in size (does not always cover all the teeth)
• Custom-made
  Made to your dental imprint by a dental professional. Everyone's jaw and teeth implantation is different. With a custom protection, it is best adapted to the player's needs.
  Pros - best protection, best comfort, can be adapted to braces and orthodontics, less likely to fall out accidentally
  Cons - more expensive

Shapes

When purchasing stock or mouth-formed products, check out the shape.
As they are not custom-made, the companies create different shapes to adapt to various mouth shapes:

• Youth vs adult versions
• Mouthguard for braces
• With added airflow

Strapped / Strapless

The strap is used to secure the mouth guard to the helmet.
Some straps also have a safety release feature for the guard to break away under a certain amount of pressure.

• the straps help coaches and officials see that the player is wearing a protection
• the straps reduce the risk of losing or damaging the guard

Material

Different materials are used to create mouthguards. Make sure you choose one that is:

• Water-resistant (contact with saliva)
• Resistant (no point in buying one every month)
• Health-safe - e.g. BPA-free
• Shock absorption - Rthylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) and Polyurethane (PU) are some of the best 
• Easy to clean

Comfort / Fit

This is one of the most important criteria to consider.
If the mouthguard is not comfortable, it means that:

• The player will not want to wear it
• It does not fit properly, thus protects less

The player might need to try several brands before finding the right one.

Color / Style

There are so many styles of mouth protectors! The manufacturers are having fun, for example:

• Clear
• Branded
• One color
• With drawings such as teeth of camouflage
• With flavors - yes, you can even find some with specific flavors such as raspberry, lemon lime, mint, bubble gum...

Dental warranty

Some products come with a dental warranty - the company will pay for dental costs in case of an injury. But make sure you read the fine prints, there are lots of conditions, including sometimes registering your gum shield.

Reviews of the best mouthguards for ice hockey players - Boil & Bite

Review of Shock Doctor Gel Max mouthguard

• Brand - Shock Doctor
• Type - Boil & Bite
• Material / Design - Gel-fit Liner Technology + Exoskeletal Shock Frame + Triple Layer
• Strapped or strapless (convertible tether)
• Flavor - optional
• Colors - many colors available
• Sizes - Youth and Adult
• Comes with case - no

Buy it - See colors / Read reviews

Review of Guardlab Apex mouthguard

• Brand - Guardlab
• Type - Boil & Bite - with “APEX Bite Pattern” that pre-indents where to bite - best for accurate fit - Recognized improvement for best fitting to your mouth!
• Material / Design - using 3D printing - material said to be 150% more absorbent
• Strapless
• Flavor - no
• Colors - several colors available
• Sizes - Small, Medium and Large
• Made in USA
• Comes with case - yes

Buy it - See colors / Read reviews

Review of SISU Aero mouthguard

Review of Oral Mart mouthguard

• Brand - Oral Mart
• Type - Boil & Bite 
• Material / Design - Inner Gel Layer + Outer Impact layer
• Strapless
• Flavor - no
• Colors - many colors available
• Sizes - youth (12 and below)
• Comes with case - yes

Buy youth version - See colors / Read reviews

Buy Adult version - See colors / Read reviews

Reviews of best hockey mouthguards for braces

Review of Shock Doctor Double Braces mouthguard

• Brand - Shock doctor
• Type - Stock - No molding
• Protects both upper and lower teeth
• Material / Design - medical grade silicone - designed to sit on top of the brackets + integrated ventilation channels
• Strapped or Strapless
• Flavor - no
• Colors - 4 colors 
• Sizes - Under 12 or over 12
• Comes with case - no
• Made in the USA
• Dental warranty

Buy it - see colors / Read reviews

Review of Shock Doctor Braces mouthguard

• Brand - Shock doctor
• Type - Stock - No molding
• Protects the upper teeth only
• Material / Design - medical grade silicone - designed to sit on top of the brackets + integrated ventilation channels
• Strapped or Strapless
• Flavor - no
• Colors - 5 colors 
• Sizes - Youth or Adult
• Comes with case - no
• Dental warranty

Buy it - See colors / Read reviews

Best ice hockey mouthguard for airflow

Review of Shock Doctor Max Airflow mouthguard

• Brand - Shock doctor
• Type - Stock - No molding
• 10% more flow capacity via Airflow breathing channel
• Material / Design - Shock Doctor polymers and integral bite pads - Design made to relax the jaw and not block the breathing channel
• Strapped or Strapless (Quick release tether)
• Works with Braces
• Flavor - no
• Colors - several colors available 
• Sizes - Youth or Adult
• Comes with case - no
• Dental warranty

Buy it - see colors / Read reviews

Custom hockey mouthguard 

Review of Impact custom mouthguard

• Brand - Impact Custom mouthguard
• Type - Custom - easy to use impression kit, includes paid postage to dental lab
• Material / Design - 5mm, heavy impact absorbent, optimal oxygen flow
• Strapped or Strapless (Quick release tether)
• Works with Braces
• Flavor - no
• Colors - many colors and styles available 
• Sizes - custom
• Comes with case - yes

Buy it - See colors / Read reviews

How to take care of your hockey mouthpiece

It is essential to take good care of a mouthguard because:

• If it is damaged, it will not protect as well
• If it is not clean, it can gather bacteria - this could lead to a infection

6 steps to take care of your guard

1. Rinse before and after each use
2. Check after each use to see if there is any wear and tear (replace if this is the case)
3. Do not expose the mouth guard to sun or hot water (to minimize distortion of its shape)
4. Do a regular deep cleaning (see next paragraph)
5. Bring it to your dentist for her/him to check it out and advise on wear and tear
6. When not in your mouth, keep it protected in a case that is sturdy and has vents for air circulation. Guard must not bend inside.

How to do a deep cleaning of a mouth guard

• Option 1
  Brush with a toothbrush and toothpaste 
• Option 2
  Clean in cool water with soap and rinse thoroughly
• Option 3
  Soak it in denture cleaner / mouthwash
• Option 4
  Clean with specific mouthguard cleaners

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