Are You Protected? 4 Ways To Check The Fit Of Your Mouthguard
No matter what sport you play and no matter what level you play at, mouthguards are likely a mandatory part of your uniform. And just like your helmet or shin pads, your mouthguard is meant to protect you from costly injuries.
No matter So how do you ensure that your mouthguard is protecting you properly? Just check the fit.
The fit of your mouthguard is the most important factor when it comes to being properly protected; but how do you check the fit? Here are four easy tips to see if your mouthguard fits correctly:
1. Go Gag-free
It’s pretty simple: If your mouthguard makes you gag, something is clearly wrong with your mouthguard.
A common myth about mouthguards is that they need to completely cover all of the upper teeth. But that is actually false and part of the reason why your mouthguard is making you gag.
In order to keep you from gagging, your mouthguard must avoid the soft palate — the fleshy, flexible part toward the back of the roof of the mouth. That means your mouthguard must end between the end of the first molar and midway through the second.
And don’t worry, a mouthguard cut properly actually provides better protection, as too much material towards the molars actually makes the mouthguard more uncomfortable without providing any additional protection. That material also makes it difficult to open and close your mouth. Your guard should fit snug against your upper teeth, without needing to bite or clench the mouthguard…
2. Don’t Bite Or Clench
If you have to bite or clench to keep your mouthguard in place, your mouthguard does not fit properly.
Again, your mouthguard should stay securely and tightly on your upper teeth without falling out or shifting. And you definitely shouldn’t have to adjust it or play with it on the field, court or ice, as that distraction may take your head out of the game.
3. Protecting Your Roots
While your mouthguard shouldn’t completely cover your entire upper jaw, it must fit over part of your gums.
Your mouthguard helps to protect your gums from lacerations, and more importantly, shields the roots of your teeth. Just because your teeth are covered by your guard doesn’t mean the roots are fully protected and teeth can’t be dislodged by contact.
4. Speak Clearly
Another way to check the fit of your mouthguard is to simply talk. Your mouthguard shouldn’t interfere with your speech or breathing, so if you can’t speak or breathe clearly, your mouthguard isn’t the right fit.
The material of your mouthguard should be limited or removed entirely from the free flow space in your mouth — the area behind the back of your front teeth and on the inside of your molars. This allows you to speak, breathe and even drink without removing your guard.
When it comes to the fit of your mouthguard, it simply needs to be comfortable. If your mouthguard is uncomfortable in any way, you have the wrong mouthguard and are not properly protected.
10 thoughts on “Are You Protected? 4 Ways To Check The Fit Of Your Mouthguard”
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Todd nelson here I need a mouthgurad made I have only 2 bottom teeth , I stil like to spar boxing muaythai inthe ring I am 56 damn that sounds old oh well , I am hope you can Help me so I can do this for a few more years . your s truly MR.Beat Down . Thank You for your time no I do not need a walker also lol.
Thank you for explaining that you shouldn’t have to bite down in order to keep your mouthguard in place or else it is too loose. My husband and I have been wanting to help our oldest prepare for football. I think we should look into finding him a sports mouthguard so we can feel like he is being protected.
I feel like my mouth guard is a bit tight and when I wear it my ear hurts and my throat hurts too. A bit of difficulty breathing but that could just be my ashma I’m not sure I am wearing it because of my tinituss hoping that it will go down in sound
If your mouthguard is tight, you can generally use light heat to loosen it and help to realign the fit whether you are wearing a custom or boil-and-bite mouthguard. Tightness however, will not affect your ear or throat. You may have another issue happening. As far as difficulty breathing, be sure you have the right mouthguard for you. A custom will always be best and see if you chose the correct style for you and your sport.
Hey guys should a mouthguard be squishy or rigid. Which one will absorb shock better for muay thai.
“Squishy” or “rigid” should not be the focus, but the nature of the material to absorb shock. Our Gladiators are primarily made from EVA which is considered soft for comfort, but is great at absorbing shock to the mouth. Our Nano Shock Barrier built into the High Performance style, is a very rigid material, but designed to have high absorption qualities allowing us to create a thinner mouthguard with more protection. So it really depends on the material in question, not the density of the material.
Quick question. My guard feels extremely snug and I’m able to breathe and speak without issue. However, if I’m able to lift up the back of the guard and take it off without using my hands, is there a problem?
As long as the guard has a nice snug fit and you can wear the guard during your sport; speak, breathe and drink without the guard falling out you have a good fit.
My son just started wrestling. I haven’t wore a mouth guard in about 22 years. Are you suppose to be able to completely close your mouth without your mouth puckered? I know when I watch boxing and mma I notice sometimes the mouth guard is visible.
Yes, you should be able to comfortably wear your mouthguard without blocking your breathing space. Every mouth is different and this will vary from athlete to athlete, but the guard should not be bursting from their mouth. This is the sign of a poor fit or poorly created guard.