Double vs. Single Sports Mouthguards: A Parent’s Guide
When shopping for a sports mouthguard for your child, parents usually choose between single and double sports mouthguards. Knowing the difference helps you pick the right level of protection—especially for contact sports with kids in braces. Single Sports Mouthguards cover only the upper teeth in a U-shape. The lower teeth remain uncovered, leaving them more vulnerable during falls, collisions, or sudden jaw clenching. With only one arch protected, the tongue and inner cheeks are also more exposed to cuts and bite injuries. Double Sports Mouthguards cover both the upper and lower teeth at the same time. With channels for each arch, it creates a wider barrier between the teeth and the soft tissues inside the mouth. Because it protects more of the mouth, a double mouthguard offers more complete coverage during high-impact sports.
Cool Factor vs. Protection
Kids are often drawn to the “cool factor,” especially when they see professional athletes chewing on a single mouthguard during games. While that style may look appealing, it’s important for parents to help kids understand that sports mouthguards aren’t about appearances—they’re about protection. Guiding children to choose a mouthguard based on safety rather than style helps protect their teeth, braces, and mouth from injuries that can last long after the game ends.
Why a Double Sports Mouthguard Is Better
✅ Full-Mouth Tooth Protection: A double mouthguard protects all teeth, not just the top row. This means lower front teeth and canines are not left exposed to direct hits or sudden clenching. The additional material helps absorb impact from multiple directions, reducing the risk of chipped, cracked, or displaced teeth. This is especially important in sports like football, hockey, lacrosse, basketball, and soccer, where contact can come from any angle.
✅ Better Protection for Lips, Cheeks, and Tongue: One of the biggest benefits of a double sports mouthguard is soft-tissue protection. Covering both arches adds padding between the teeth and the lips, cheeks, and tongue. This helps reduce painful cuts, bruises, and bite-through injuries that often happen during collisions or falls. Kids are also less likely to bite their tongue or inner cheeks when the teeth are cushioned and kept separated, which means fewer mouth injuries and less time away from the game.
✅ A Safer Option for Kids With Braces: Children with braces on both upper and lower teeth face a higher risk of mouth injuries during sports. A double mouthguard places a smooth protective layer over brackets and wires, helping protect the lips and cheeks from sharp edges during contact. This can reduce emergency orthodontic visits caused by broken wires or deep cuts while still protecting the teeth. Dentists and orthodontists often recommend full-coverage mouthguards for kids with braces who play contact sports.
✅ Extra Coverage for High-Impact Sports: High-impact sports like football, hockey, lacrosse, boxing, and martial arts involve frequent and unpredictable contact to the mouth and jaw. A double sports mouthguard provides more coverage and cushioning, helping absorb and spread out the force of impacts. Over a full season, this added protection can significantly reduce injury to both teeth and soft tissues.
Kid’s Comfort Pro™: Full-Mouth Protection
The Kid’s Comfort Pro mouthguard by Denta-Gard is a strong example of a double sports mouthguard made with kids in mind. It covers both the upper and lower teeth to deliver true full-mouth protection without feeling bulky. Made in America from soft, shock-absorbing material, Kid’s Comfort Pro helps cushion impacts while remaining comfortable enough for kids to wear during practices and games. Because it protects both arches, it also helps guard the lips, cheeks, and tongue from cuts caused by braces or sharp tooth edges.
Parents appreciate that Kid’s Comfort Pro is:
✪ Braces-friendly
✪ Ready-to-wear
✪ Comfortable for extended use
✪ Latex-free and BPA-free
For families upgrading from thin single mouthguards, Kid’s Comfort Pro provides a more complete level of protection for growing smiles.
Comfort and Fit Matter
Some parents worry that double mouthguards might feel bulkier than single guards. A well-made double mouthguard balances protection and comfort, making it easier for kids to keep it in place during play. For children in sports like wrestling, basketball, football, lacrosse, hockey, or martial arts, a double sports mouthguard like Kid’s Comfort Pro offers full-mouth tooth protection and added coverage for lips, cheeks, and tongue, giving parents peace of mind every time their child is in the game.
