What are impact mouthguards, how do they work and why are they important?
Impact mouthguards or sports mouth guards are protective devices you can wear over your teeth to prevent injury, typically when participating in sport. Briefly put, a sports mouth guard’s purpose and function is to absorb and distribute impact shock in order to reduce the possibility of dental injuries such as chipping and cracking.
In this short article, we’ll discuss the benefits of wearing a sports mouth guard, how to select a high-quality mouthguard, and how to get the perfect fit so you can play your favourite sports without having to worry about chipping or losing your teeth.
Why you should wear a mouth guard during sports
First of all, let us take a closer look at the benefits of wearing a mouthguard during contact and other high-impact sports.
Professional athletes including boxers and runners know the importance of wearing a fitted mouthguard when they are in the ring or on the track. They know that wearing a great quality mouth guard with a perfect fit can make the difference between intact teeth or teeth that are cracked and broken.
It goes without saying that you don’t have to be a professional athlete to benefit from and be protected by a mouth guard, as amateurs are just as likely to damage their teeth during workouts or competitions.
Where to get a sports mouthguard
Not all impact mouth guards are the same. Here are your choices and where to get them:
Custom mouthguards
Your dentist or dental technician will be able to craft a mouth guard for you, based on your specific teeth. These custom mouthgards are more expensive and take longer to make than the other options available, but the result is one your teeth are going to love for a long time to come.
Mouthguards developed for high impact
If a custom-made impact mouthguard from your dentist is out of your price range, consider the following alternatives:
- Champs Breathable Mouthguard
- Shock Doctor Gel Max Mouth Guard
- Sisu Aero Mouth Guard
- Venum Challenger Mouthguard
- Nxtrnd Rush Mouth Guard
- DAMAGE CONTROL High Impact Mouth Guard
- SAFEJAWZ Mouthguard
How to get a mouth guard to work properly
Here are some pointers on how to properly wear an impact mouthguard:
Choose quality
Choosing quality is always a good idea. The material used to make your mouth guard determines both its effectiveness and how comfortable or uncomfortable it is to wear. It is best to use a high-quality mouthguard made of a shock-absorbing material that will not break or disintegrate under pressure. A cheap and lower quality mouth guard can seem like the best option, but the truth is that it won’t provide you with the right degree of protection.
Prioritise the perfect fit
Fit is all-important. Just like dentures or other devices you wear in your mouth, a mouthguard should fit perfectly. Ideally it should be moulded to your teeth with great precision in a way that only a dentist can do. Anything less is going to result in a loose mouthguard, which can be almost as bad as not wearing one at all.
Only wear it when you need it
Mouth guards are uncomfortable to wear for extended periods of time, so use them only when absolutely necessary. Pop your mouthguard in after you’ve warmed up or immediately before entering the ring, and take it out again right afterwards.
Frequently asked questions
What mouthguards do UFC fighters use?
The majority of UFC fighters wear custom-fitted mouthguards by one of the following brands:
Impact Custom Professional Mouth Guard, Rush Mouth Guard For Contact Sports, Classic Fighting Mouth Guard, Shock Doctor Gel Max Mouth Guard, and Sisu Aero Mouth Guard.
How long does impact mouthguard take?
The time it takes to get a custom-fitted mouthguard depends on the dentist, provider, or mouthguard brand you decide to go for.
If you have the patience, a custom mouth guard is best. It is true that you can get your hands on a boil-and-bite mouthguard and custom fit it at home on the same day, but as mentioned earlier in this article, it is better to choose quality. Custom mouthguards give much better protection but they also require a little more time. Expect the turnaround to be approximately 14 days.
Final thoughts on impact mouth guards
Whether you are a professional athlete or not, you should purchase the best mouthguard available. Having one made specifically for you will vastly improve your experience of wearing it – but most importantly, it’ll enhance the live of protection it gives you.
If you can afford it, your best option is getting a custom mouthguard made by your dentist or dental technician. However, if a custom mouthguard is a little out of your budget, there are plenty of impact mouth guard services that provide customers with well-designed mouthguards that can be boiled and fitted at home.