Minor hockey registration is done, the ice is in, and the first practices of the season are underway across the Eastman region. Somewhere in the equipment bag is a mouthguard. It may be a good one, or it may be the boil-and-bite that came in the starter kit two seasons ago and now smells like the bag.
Every fall we see the results of the second option. So here is the honest answer to a question parents ask us every September, along with what to do about it.
Short answer: yes, and not only for the teeth
Hockey Canada requires a hockey mouthguard for minor hockey players, and it is easy to assume the rule is about protecting teeth. It is, but the bigger reason is the jaw. A properly fitted guard absorbs some of the force of a hit to the chin and helps keep the upper and lower teeth from slamming together, which reduces the risk of jaw fractures and can lessen the severity of some impacts to the head.
The Hockey Canada rulebook treats the mouthguard as protective equipment for a reason. A cracked tooth is expensive and painful. A fractured jaw is a hospital visit.
The three types, honestly compared
Stock guards. Pre-formed, one size, no fitting. They are cheap and they meet the rule, but they only work if the player clenches to hold them in, which is why so many end up chewed flat or dangling from the cage.
Boil-and-bite. Softened in hot water and moulded at home. Better than stock, and fine for younger players in low-contact divisions. The weak points are bulk (they tend to be thick, which makes talking and breathing harder) and fit, which degrades every time the guard is re-heated or chewed.
Custom guards. Made from a scan or impression of the player’s teeth, so they fit exactly and stay in place without clenching. Thinner, easier to breathe through, and far more likely to actually be worn on the ice. They cost more, but a guard that stays in the bag protects nothing.
At Beausejour Dental Centre we make custom guards from a quick digital scan rather than a putty impression, which matters if your player is nine years old and squeamish. We can add a team colour, and for players with braces we make a guard shaped to fit over the brackets.
When does a kid need a custom hockey mouthguard?
Not every player needs one, and we would rather tell you that than sell you one. A boil-and-bite is reasonable when:
- The player is in a non-contact division
- Adult teeth are still coming in and the mouth is changing every few months
- The guard is checked and replaced each season
Consider a custom guard when:
- The player is in a contact division or moving up to one
- They have braces or recently finished orthodontic treatment
- They have already had a dental injury on the ice
- They keep spitting out or chewing the boil-and-bite, which usually means it does not fit
Talk to our children’s dentistry team at your child’s fall check-up. We can look at the current guard and tell you whether it is doing its job.
If a tooth gets knocked out at the rink
It happens, even with a guard. What you do in the first hour decides whether the tooth can be saved.
- Find the tooth. Pick it up by the crown (the white part), not the root.
- If it is dirty, rinse it gently with milk or saline. Do not scrub it and do not wrap it in tissue.
- If the player is old enough to cooperate, place the tooth back in the socket and have them bite gently on a clean cloth. If not, put it in a container of milk.
- Call us at 204-268-1782 on the way. We prioritize dental trauma, and re-implanting within an hour gives the best odds.
For a baby tooth, do not try to put it back; it can damage the adult tooth underneath. Bring the child in so we can check for other injuries. Our dental emergencies page has more on what counts as urgent.
Chipped, cracked, or loosened teeth
Not every hockey injury is a knocked-out tooth. Chips and cracks are more common, and they range from cosmetic to serious.
- Small chip, no pain: Often repaired in one visit with dental bonding, which builds the corner back with tooth-coloured resin.
- Larger fracture or a tooth that hurts with cold: May need a same-day CEREC crown to protect what is left, or root canal treatment if the nerve is exposed.
- Tooth pushed out of position or loose: Needs to be seen the same day so it can be splinted while it heals.
If a permanent tooth cannot be saved, a dental implant is the long-term replacement once growth is finished. Nobody wants to think about that for a twelve-year-old, which is the whole point of the mouthguard.
A quick note for adult rec league players
Adults are not required to wear a guard in most rec leagues, and most do not. The injuries we see in adult players are often worse than in kids because the play is faster and the players are bigger. A custom guard for an adult is a small investment against a very expensive night.
Frequently asked questions
Are hockey mouthguards mandatory in minor hockey in Manitoba? Yes. Hockey Canada rules, which Hockey Manitoba follows, require mouthguards for minor hockey players. The type is not specified, so a boil-and-bite meets the rule, but a custom guard protects better and is more likely to stay in the player’s mouth.
Can my child wear a hockey mouthguard with braces? Yes, but it should be one designed for braces. A standard boil-and-bite can lock onto the brackets or fail to cover them. We make custom guards shaped to fit over orthodontic appliances, and they can be adjusted as treatment progresses.
How often should a hockey mouthguard be replaced? Every season for a growing child, and sooner if it is chewed through, cracked, or no longer fits snugly. Adults can usually get two or three seasons from a custom guard if it is rinsed after use and stored in its case.
Get your player fitted before the first game
A custom hockey mouthguard takes one short appointment and is ready within days. Call 204-268-1782 or book online, and we can fit it during your child’s regular fall check-up.
