If you walk into pretty much any boxing gym across the UK and internationally, most if not all fighters will be wearing mouthguards. This is because the importance of wearing a mouthguard during training cannot be understated.
With such a high risk of facial damage during a boxing fight or sparring session, mouth and teeth injuries can be quite common. However, using mouthguards can significantly decrease the chance of these kinds of injuries.
In this article, we will take a closer look at what exactly mouthguards do, the benefits of mouthguards and also the best mouthguards on the market for boxing.
What Exactly Is A Mouthguard?
In boxing, mouthguards are protective pieces of equipment that are used to help shield and protect a fighter's mouth, gums, and teeth from injury. They are typically made from extremely brittle materials such as rubber, polymers, and plastics to ensure they are incredibly strong.
The protective layer is designed to sit around your teeth and upper jaw. This helps to protect your teeth and tongue from coming into contact with each other during the impact of a punch.
To obtain the incredibly snug fit needed for optimal safety and comfort, there are two types of mouthguards. One type has fighters heat the guard up with hot water, place it in their mouth, bite down, and allow it to mould and set around their teeth. The other type is where a dentist takes a dental impression of your mouth and then creates a guarded model around your teeth.
Benefits Of Mouthguards
Mouthguards provide boxers with so many incredible benefits that allow them to fight without the fear or risk of serious mouth injuries. These benefits of mouthguards include, but are not limited to;
Prevent Lip & Gum Injuries
One of the most apparent and popular benefits of mouthguards in boxing is their ability to decrease the chance of lip or gum injuries. With constant impact to the face and jaw, mouthguards play a hugely vital role in ensuring that lips and gums do not pick up injuries.
This is because the protective layer of the gum shield stops your teeth from biting your lips during impact and opening large cuts. Not only does this ensure that you are as safe as possible, but it also allows you to continue fighting without a cut ruining your bout.
Prevent Dental Injuries
Nobody wants to be walking around in their day-to-day lives missing a load of teeth. Well, if boxers did not wear mouthguards during sparring and competition then this would be a high likelihood. Constant punches to the jaw and mouth, without adequate protection, would cause severe dental problems.
However, mouthguards are specifically designed to be moulded around your teeth to provide a secure and durable layer of protection. This protective layer is extremely effective and reduces the risk of dental damage to almost zero.
Concussion Protection
Another benefit of mouthguards is their ability to help prevent and reduce the impact of concussions. They do this by absorbing a large amount of the shock and force of a punch while also reducing the force that is transferred from a punch to the skull.
While more research is needed to show the true effectiveness of mouthguards when it comes to concussions, some studies have shown their potential effectiveness. Some studies have even shown that custom-fit mouthguards can be even more effective in reducing concussion impacts.
Improved Breathing
Most mouthguards are designed with the user in mind. This means that they are designed to be as comfortable as possible and to ensure that boxers can breathe without any constrictions during both competition and training.
Being able to comfortably breathe is incredibly important during sports such as boxing which take such a huge toll on the cardiovascular system. Therefore, having mouthguards that ensure breathing is easy is integral to performing at your very best.
Mental Comfort
Another benefit of using a mouthguard for boxing is the mental edge that it gives you. While this may at first seem unbelievable, there is some research to back it up. Having a mouthguard in and therefore having extra protection can give you more confidence in the ring.
Simply knowing that your jaw, teeth, and gums are protected helps to make you feel safer in the ring and thus boost your confidence. It is a similar mindset to when rugby players wear a scrum cap and the added protection gives them an extra level of confidence to go into tackles harder.
What Are The Best Mouthguards For Boxing?
Adidas OPRO Gumshield - The Adidas OPRO Gumshield is an ultra-popular choice due to its incredible shock absorption and comfortability. The gum shield also has anatomically positioned fins which help the shield mould perfectly around each tooth. The OPRO also comes in a range of unique colours and designs.
Cleto Reyes Mouthguard - The Cleto Reyes Mouthguard features a simple boil-and-bite application for a custom and comfortable mould. The guard also features a centre opening which allows for easy breathing during fights and sparring sessions.
Fighting Fierce Professional Mouthguard - The Fighting Fierce Pro mouthguard features three layers of protective impact protection and an increased inner layer for supreme comfort. The design of the guard also allows for extra oxygen intake to ensure fighters can breathe as easily as possible in the ring.
Geezers Custom Made - This ultra high-quality mouthguard is brought to you by Roots Dental Lab Limited. Geezer’s custom-fit mouthguards are completely hand made which means you get the highest standard mouthguard out there without having to go to a dentist. The mouthguards are a perfect fit for your teeth and gum line, which allows ultimate comfort and maximum protection
We also offer a huge range of other mouthguards from huge brands within the support. So check out the wide range of high-quality and ultra-protective mouthguards that we stock.
