Editor’s note (September 05, 2025): This article was refreshed for the 2025 season with current rules, clearer guidance on sports vs. night guards, and a note on Patrick Mahomes’ retainer-style tray.
If you watch an NFL game closely, you’ll spot every mouth situation under the sun: thick lip guards, slim clear trays, neon boil-and-bites dangling from facemasks—and sometimes…nothing at all.
So what’s going on out there? Are mouthguards optional in the NFL? Do the thin, retainer-looking trays (👀 hi, Patrick Mahomes) actually protect teeth? And what should the rest of us learn from the pros?
Let’s break it down.
First things first: Are mouthguards required in the NFL?
Short answer: No. The NFL regulates a lot of uniform and safety equipment, but mouthpieces are among the least-regulated items. That’s why you’ll see huge variety—and sometimes non-use—on Sundays. Yahoo Sports
Contrast that with college and high school football, where mouthguards are mandatory. The NCAA requires them, and NFHS rules at the high-school level do too (with recent updates tightening what’s allowed). PubMedNFHS
TL;DR: NFL = optional, NCAA/NFHS = required.
So why do some NFL players skip them—or let them dangle?
A few reasons keep coming up when players and equipment staff talk about it:
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Communication & breathing. Quarterbacks and skill players often feel more comfortable calling plays and controlling breath without a bulky guard. That “dangle from the facemask” habit is real. WTOP News Reddit
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Comfort & superstition. If a player once had a guard that felt bulky—or they just “played fine without it”—habits stick.
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Aesthetics. Some guys simply prefer the look/feel of minimal gear. (Again: optional at the NFL level.) Yahoo Sports
What are pros actually wearing now?
You’ll see three broad categories on NFL sidelines:
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Custom athletic mouthguards (made by dental pros; usually EVA or multilayer). These are what most dentists recommend for contact sports—best balance of fit, retention, and impact absorption. American Dental Association
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Boil-and-bite / lip-guard styles. Popular with receivers/runners; easy to replace, lots of “swag” options, and some players even double up.
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Clear trays that look like retainers. This is where Patrick Mahomes comes in…
The Mahomes factor: Is that an Invisalign tray?
Yep. After years of speculation, Mahomes confirmed he’s an Invisalign user and even announced a partnership with the brand in early 2025. On TV, that thin, hard, almost invisible tray you see him chewing? That’s why it looks more “retainer” than “mouthguard.” Adweek
Important note: Invisalign aligners can cover teeth and may offer some cushioning, but they’re not engineered as impact-rated athletic mouthguards. If you need actual on-field protection, use a sports mouthguard designed for impact attenuation. (Dentistry organizations are clear: properly fitted sports mouthguards reduce the incidence and severity of dental injuries.) American Dental Association
Do mouthguards prevent concussions?
The honest, evidence-based answer: Mouthguards are excellent for teeth and soft-tissue protection (lips, cheeks, tongue). Their effect on concussion risk is less certain and remains an area of ongoing research. Wear one for your teeth and jaw—the benefits there are well-documented. JADA
If the NFL doesn’t require them, why should I wear one?
Because you’re not an NFL outlier with world-class dental access on speed dial. For the rest of us, a properly fitted sports mouthguard is the best way to avoid broken teeth, lacerations, and expensive dental work from a single hit. The ADA recommends them for collision and contact sports—including football. American Dental Association
Night guards vs. sports mouthguards (quick PSA)
We make night guards for teeth grinding and clenching. They’re designed for long wear, balanced bite contacts, and comfort during sleep—not for taking helmet-to-helmet impact. A sports mouthguard is thicker, has different edge design, and is purpose-built to absorb and dissipate sudden force.
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Playing football? Use a sports mouthguard.
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Grinding your teeth off the field (like half the planet)? That’s where a custom night guard shines.
Why you sometimes see two mouthpieces
You may catch players with a lip guard plus a thinner tray, or with two devices during warm-ups. The mix-and-match is partly about comfort and partly about habit—again, since it isn’t mandated, personalization rules the day.
What high school and college athletes (and parents) need to know
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You must wear one in games at those levels. Period. Referees can send you out for a down if you’re not properly equipped. NFHS
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New NFHS tweaks focus on safety: attachments that don’t serve a protective purpose are being phased out. Translation: keep it functional. NFHS
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Get it fitted. Custom guards or well-made boil-and-bites that actually fit stay in better and protect better. American Dental Association
Quick Takeaways
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NFL players aren’t required to wear mouthguards, which is why you see everything from lip guards to clear trays to nada.
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College & high school players are required to wear them—and rulebooks are getting stricter about what’s allowed.
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Mahomes confirmed he wears Invisalign, which explains the super-thin “retainer” look—not the same thing as a purpose-built sports mouthguard.
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For protection, choose an athletic mouthguard that actually fits; the ADA strongly recommends it for contact sports.