Boxing mouth guard: types, tips for choosing, instructions for use

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A mouthguard is a must-have sports accessory for boxers and participants in contact martial arts. The main task of the attribute is to partially absorb and soften the impact, as well as to protect the owner’s teeth. Without this accessory, no coach will allow a fighter to participate in a fight, even a training one. Therefore, athletes face the question of how to choose a mouthguard for boxing and other martial arts.

Choosing a mouthguard depending on age

There are models designed specifically for adults and for children. Features of choosing a mouthguard taking into account the age and physical characteristics of the athlete:

  • Children's mouth guards are recommended for use in children under 10 years of age with a height of no more than 140 cm;
  • For athletes who have reached the age of 11 or have a height of 140 cm, buy adult models.

If the mouth guard is too big, you can reduce it a little. Most adult models are adjusted to the individual parameters of the athlete - a child or an adult with a non-standard jaw. The mouthguard is trimmed to the required size and, if necessary, re-welded.

A proper sports protective mouthguard is characterized by the following features:

  1. Children's mouthguards must be custom-made from dental impressions (no standard or homemade mouthguards, so-called "warm-and-bite"). Please note that the manufacture of a mouthguard should only be carried out by a qualified specialist. The dentist assesses the condition of the dental system (presence of caries, cracks, tooth defects), diagnoses the child’s bite, and the condition of the oral mucosa, especially in the areas of bony protrusions. Only after a full diagnosis does the doctor draw up a technical specification for the dental laboratory.
  2. A children's mouthguard should fit tightly around the teeth and bone protrusions, have the required depth, and not rub the lips and gums. After the mouth guard is made in the dental laboratory, the dentist checks that the mouth guard is properly fixed in the patient's mouth. If necessary, adjustments are made. Please pay attention to this point if you are offered to send a mouth guard by courier. When receiving a mouth guard by courier, there will be no talk of any fitting, no one will adjust the mouth guard or make it more comfortable for the child!
  3. Only professional equipment and proven materials should be used to make children's mouthguards. Materials for children's sports mouthguards should not cause allergic reactions, have no taste or odor.
  4. The manufacture of a mouth guard for a child should be entrusted to a qualified dental technician, who will take into account the age-related nuances of the patient. Do not trust unknown manufacturers who leave only a mobile phone number and a promise to make a good mouth guard. A handicraft manufacturer who has purchased a vacuum molding machine cannot produce a reliable children's dental mouth guard with high quality. At the Dial-Dent clinic, the best dental technicians manufacture any dental equipment for children.
  5. The service life of a children's mouthguard is six months, maximum a year, since the child's dental system is actively changing and developing. If you are promised a longer service life, this should alert you; perhaps you are being offered to make a mouthguard for growth, which negatively affects its protective properties.

Models

Manufacturers offer several options for mouth guards, differing in design, method of attachment and level of protection.

Unilateral

Such mouthguards are worn only on the upper jaw. This is quite enough to perform protective functions.

Pros:

  • comfortable, do not cause discomfort;
  • are securely held on the teeth (if subjected to proper cooking);
  • allow you to speak during sparring.

It is the one-sided models that are recommended by most sports federations - boxing, karate, sambo, taekwondo and others. Athletes must wear a one-sided mouth guard when competing or they will be disqualified.

Double sided

These mouthguards provide even more protection than single-sided models. They are usually recommended to be worn during training and sparring. Double-sided models are worn on both jaws—upper and lower—providing protection for both rows of teeth.

Apart from a high level of protection, double-sided mouth guards have no other advantages, only disadvantages:

  • they are not allowed to talk during sparring;
  • you need to breathe through a special hole in the product.

Using two-way models requires certain skills - learning to breathe correctly and remain silent when you want to speak. It is extremely important to pay attention to these points when choosing and purchasing a mouth guard.

With strap

These are single-sided mouthguards with a fixing strap. It is located on the front of the product. The strap is needed to attach the mouthguard to external elements - for example, to a boxing, hockey, baseball or other helmet.

Models with straps are usually used by athletes who are at risk of swallowing a mouth guard? - hockey players, baseball players, etc.

For braces

Manufacturers have taken into account that among the athletes there may be braces wearers. For such cases, single- and double-sided mouthguards are produced. The first are intended for those who have braces on one jaw, the second - on two.

Mouth guards for athletes with braces, unlike regular ones, have a special groove designed for a tighter and more secure fit.

When a person wears braces, the position of his teeth gradually changes. The mouth guard should neither fix them in their original form nor interfere with their displacement.

Trays for braces are made from:

  • Silicone. It does not cook and does not prevent teeth from moving.
  • Hot melt plastic. Mouth guards made from this material need to be digested periodically.

The best manufacturers of mouth guards for boxing and MMA

There are many companies that make mouthguards for contact sports. But there are brands that are among the best, in any rating.

SHOCK DOCTOR

American brand Shock Doctor, a leader among manufacturers of protective equipment. They specialize in the production of boxing mouth guards from high-tech gel. Even inexpensive models have a three-layer construction.

Manufacturers claim that thanks to high technology, the mouthguard absorbs 40% of impact energy. That's why they produce models with low sides. The protector provides reliable protection to both jaws and does not interfere with conversation.

The manufacturer is so confident in its product that it guarantees compensation of up to 15 thousand dollars to anyone who loses a tooth while using the onlay.

VENUM

The company specializes in the production of protective equipment for professionals. The brand was founded in 2006. The central office is located in Brazil.

The founders of Venum know first-hand what it's like to miss a beat. The origins of the brand are Brazilian jiu-jitsu fighters. The company was created specifically for the production of sports equipment.

Manufacturers Venum maintain close relationships with UFC stars. The best fighters of the Cell are involved in the development of new defense models.

OPRO

The English brand was founded in 1997. The company is a licensed partner of the UFC. This fact says a lot. You can trust such protection.

In addition, all OPRO models have an antibacterial coating. The package includes an antimicrobial box. In 2007, Opro received the Queen's Award for Innovation in Oral Protection.

EVERLAST

The brand was founded in 1910 in the USA. Specializes in the production of sportswear and protective equipment for martial arts.

The campaign's products are chosen by world-famous stars. Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson and many other boxing geniuses performed in EVERLAST equipment.

Over a hundred years, the company has accumulated vast experience in the development of security elements and has its own patented technologies. For example, boxing gloves contain “EverGEL” - a special gel, the composition of which is kept secret. It protects your wrists by cushioning and dissipating impact energy. The same technologies are used in boxing mouth guards.

To make the famous brand available to the masses, production was moved to China. Affordable prices, plus modern technologies. Summarize and you will understand why Everlast mouthguards are known in all boxing schools.

Material

Mouthguards are made from special materials that meet their functionality and safety requirements. They are most often made from silicone, POE thermoplastic, or latex. These materials are safe for health and are widely used in various martial arts.

All materials used for dental onlays are divided into cast (non-thermoplastic) and thermoplastic. Thermoplastic protectors - dental protectors - are classified into a separate group.

Cast

These mouthguards are completely ready for use. All you have to do is take them out of the box and put them on your jaw. This is a convenient but not practical option.

It is extremely difficult to choose a ready-made molded mouth guard that would exactly fit a specific jaw. If the guard does not fit tightly on the teeth, it will not provide adequate protection during combat.

Thermoplastic

Thermoplastic mouth guards are semi-finished products from which a mouth guard is yet to be made. The purchased product is heated and placed on the teeth. As the plate cools, it takes on the exact contours of the jaw. Thanks to anatomical precision, thermoplastic pads reliably protect the athlete.

Dental

They are made from individual impressions taken from the athlete’s lower and upper jaw. How to make a dental mouth guard:

  1. Contact a sports dentist.
  2. Make a plaster cast of him.
  3. Receive a custom mouth guard, pressed using special equipment.

The disadvantage of such a mouth guard is its high cost. Such services and products are not cheap. But you can order a product with an individual design - choose any color, make a drawing or inscription. In this way, pros often emphasize their style and extravagance.

Which mouthguard to choose

When choosing a boxing mouth guard, remember how much a visit to the dentist costs. “Repairing” one tooth will cost more than a good insert.

Production leaders refused to produce double-sided protectors (for both jaws). Therefore, we will not consider them.

Single-sided plates, as you now know, come in one-, two- and three-layer types. Prices for single-layer protectors start from 150 rubles.

A reliable three-layer Everlast mouthguard , with the maximum degree of protection, will cost 1000-1100 rubles.

Need recommendations from MMA fighters - choose Venum . The defense was created by fighters based on personal experience. With such a boxing mouth guard you can go into the ring. Professional protection costs 1200 to 2500 rubles.

If you want a bright design from British aristocrats, check out Opro mouth guards .

The undisputed favorite remains the brand - Shock Doctor . Three-layer protection, a wide price range, warranty obligations - this is the number one policy.

Overlay thickness

The thickness of the mouth guard is affected by the number of layers. Manufacturers offer single-layer and multi-layer models, differing in the level of protection and other parameters.

Single layer

Single layer plates provide single protection. When choosing such a mouthguard, pay attention to the front (outer) wall - it should be high enough. The protection of the gums and the redistribution of the impact load - the transfer of a certain part of the impact from the teeth to the gums and palate - depend on the height of the side.

Multilayer

Most boxers choose a two-layer mouthguard - it creates double protection. Its outer layer is tougher than the inner one. It is made of rubber. Its function is to absorb and dissipate impact force.

The second layer - the inner one - is much softer than the outer one. It is made of gel and exactly follows the shape of the teeth and jaw. The purpose of the inner layer is to absorb shock.

There are manufacturers offering three-layer models. The structure is reinforced with special inserts for the outer layer. The inner layer has shock-absorbing inserts.

What mouth guard are you using?

Single layer

41.67%

Multilayer

58.33%

Voted: 48

Why do you need a boxing mouth guard?

Boxing mouthguard - accurately follows the shape of the jaw and protects the oral cavity during a fight. A dental insert is a mandatory element of sports equipment. Without protection, a fighter will not be allowed into the ring.

Why is the plate needed? 1. Protects teeth from knocking out and chipping. 2. Protects the oral cavity from internal cuts. If there is no mouthguard, then the lips and cheeks are torn from the impact of the fangs and sharp edges of the teeth. 3. Prevents tongue biting during impact. 4. Covers gums from cuts. 5. Protects the jaw from dislocations and fractures. 6. Reduces the risk of concussion.

Color

The color of the mouthguard is not regulated by sports organizations. Manufacturers produce a variety of options. Not only models of different colors are sold - there are mouth guards with drawings and inscriptions.

Manufacturers offer products with various flavor interpretations, with mint flavor being the most popular. This plant is an antiseptic; it not only serves as protection against pathogenic bacteria, but also freshens breath.

Coaches recommend that their players choose mouthguards of light colors, without any smell or taste, so that they do not remind anyone of their presence and do not distract the athletes during a fight or game.

Price

The cost of mouth guards varies widely. You can find a cheap plastic product for 200 rubles, and there are models made using innovative technologies that cost several thousand rubles.

Examples of prices for mouthguards:

  • plastic flavored mouth guard MoGo - 990 rubles;
  • PAFFEN SPORT thermoplastic mouth guard with mint flavor — RUB 1,390;
  • transparent Fight Empire MG-10 mouth guard made of thermoplastic silicone (needs to be “cooked”) - 230 rubles;
  • multi-layer mouth guard Venum Predator Mouthguard Black / White made of high-density rubber alloy - RUB 1,572;
  • two-layer silicone mouthguard Fight Empire — 534 rub.

Brand

When choosing, you should focus on manufacturers and the specialization of their products. Among the most famous brands are Shock doctor, Khan, Everlast, Century, each of which provides high-quality products made in different price categories. The most popular model is Shock doctor Gel Max 61, made of special Exoskeletal Shock Frame rubber and equipped with Gel-Fit silicone inserts. The company also produces excellent inexpensive options that are suitable for a beginner, for example, Pro 5100A Sr.

Useful tips

When choosing a mouthguard, it is important to take into account as many nuances as possible in order to buy a product that best suits your individual characteristics and tasks. Tips for choosing a mouthguard:

  • the product should adhere tightly to the teeth;
  • make sure that the mouthguard does not interfere with your bite;
  • the mouthguard should not interfere, create discomfort or cause a gag reflex - check this;
  • the product should have a moderate thickness - do not buy a mouthguard that is too thick or too thin;
  • the optimal thickness of the front side is 3-4 mm, from the side of the palate - 2 mm, from the bottom side - 3 mm;
  • the product should not interfere with breathing during a conversation;
  • sniff the product to see if there is an unpleasant odor.

Expert advice

Demchenko Vitaly Petrovich

boxing trainer, Moscow

Ask a Question

The mouth guard requires serious care; you should not put a dirty product in your mouth. After every workout, my players clean their mouth guards with a brush and toothpaste. This allows you to remove plaque that remains after contact with the teeth. Store mouthguards in special ventilated boxes (boxes). Otherwise, the products will acquire an unpleasant odor.

How to “cook” a boxing mouthguard, instructions (video)

In fact, there is no need to cook the kapa. The workpiece is immersed in hot water (80-90° C) for 30-60 seconds. The exact time and water temperature are indicated in the instructions.

Then the plate is taken out, shaken (or dipped in cold water for 1 second) and put on the teeth.

The plate is pressed on the teeth with your fingers. The insert must be pulled over the gum and pressed tightly against the teeth.

After the protector is placed on the upper jaw, you need to close your teeth and bite down. There is no need to clench your teeth too hard to avoid biting through the protector.

The last step is to immerse the liner in cold water.

To reinforce the information, watch the video. It's easier to see once than to read twice.

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