How to buy Muay Thai mouthguard
The most important reasons for wearing a mouthguard is that it keeps the wearer’s teeth intact. Muay Thai is a full-contact fight sport and getting punched in the face is all part of the game. Accidents occur from time to time in sparring, so wearing mouthguards can help to minimize or prevent oral damage.
The act of biting down also helps to stabilize the jaws which can reduce the risks of jaw fractures or sprains. Wearing mouthguards takes some getting used to. While wearing a mouthguard can be difficult to breathe with.
Fighters need to use mouthguards whether they are sparring or clinching. A single light punch will remove a person’s teeth. Even with minimal contact and lightweight gloves, you can end up needing to visit a dentist if you don’t use mouth protection.
No matter how much you may pay for mouth protection, in the long run, you’ll save money avoiding the dentist fees you’ll have to pay. Don’t fear to pay money for mouthguards to safeguard a valuable commodity – your teeth!
The Effective Use of Mouthguards
The most important thing to remember when using combat art mouthguards is that you need to constantly bite down on the guard, and especially bite down on it when there is a possibility of making an impact.
Taking a punch with a too relaxed jaw can still result in problems, even when wearing a mouthguard. Your teeth will be protected, but your jaw will be shaken, causing you to be stunned and unsteady on your feet. The act of clenching your teeth before getting hit in the face keeps your jaw shut, which lessens the possibility of suffering facial and teeth injuries.
Sparring with a thinner mouthguard opens the door to tooth damage since a less protective mouthguard can’t lessen or spread a punch or kick’s force. Thicker mouthguards provide additional shock absorption and cause the strike’s impact to be spread around instead of concentrating at the point of impact.
What to Consider Before Buying Mouthguard
Fit and Comfort
A mouthguard’s fit and comfort should be the number one consideration. A loose-fitting mouthguard will be of no help when you taking a strike. When preparing a boil and bite mouthguard for use, it must be properly molded to your mouth so that it will stay in place during sparring.
If a mouthguard has been correctly fitted, it will hold on to the teeth so tightly that the guard will be tight in your mouth, even if your mouth is open. In the fighting arts, it is crucial that your mouthguard fits so tightly that it stays in place when you are hit in the mouth or face.
Size
Thicker mouthguard provides considerable protection from the shock of a sudden strike. The downside of bigger mouthguards is that they are less compact and curve out from the mouth.
Some mouthguards can cause breathing difficulties. You should select a mouthguard that fits well, has a design that appeals to you, and provides the necessary amount of protection.
Breathability
One aspect to consider is how easy is it to breathe with the mouthguard on. Some mouthguards completely block up the front of your mouth. This means it’s harder to take breaths with your mouth open.
While you should be breathing out of your nose, the truth is that when you are tired — which will happen eventually in a fighting match — you’ll be breathing out of your mouth. If your mouthguard is blocking your breathing ability, you’ll take in less oxygen and feel more tired out.
Boil and Bite Mouthguards
The most basic kind of combat sports mouthguards is the boil and bite mouthguard. These mouthguards are one-size-fits-all mouthguards requiring considerable work to make sure that they fit you properly.
Following the preparation process will ensure that the mouthguard provides solid protection. Boil and bite mouthguards are constructed with a plasticized gel created to become soft when heated in boiling water and hardens once they have cooled.
The procedure allows a fighter to boil the guard and has cooled off, bite down on the guard. This creates an impression of your teeth that hardens to conform to the inside of your mouth.
Buying custom-fit mouthguards is another way to protect your mouth and teeth during sparring and training. They are beneficial because you receive a tight fit and the work is done for you.
The process of making a custom mouthguard entails having a casting made of your teeth (usually done in a dental office), then the finished mouthguard is manufactured and is an exact fit to your mouth.
Custom mouthguards are the answer for the poor fit issues that come with using the boil and bite guards. Custom mouthguards are ideal for fighters who are patient enough to wait for them to be made and can afford the extra money they cost to buy.
They provide the best protection, fit the best, and they won’t leave your mouth when your face or mouth takes a hard punch or kick.
Keep your mouthguard hygienic by simply rinsing it under very hot water after every sparring session you wear it for. This is enough to kill any germs that might be lurking and left to fester.
Also, keep them inside their case when they are in your gym bag – you don’t want to throw them in uncovered with your sweaty shorts and hand wraps.
The act of biting down also helps to stabilize the jaws which can reduce the risks of jaw fractures or sprains. Wearing mouthguards takes some getting used to. While wearing a mouthguard can be difficult to breathe with.
Fighters need to use mouthguards whether they are sparring or clinching. A single light punch will remove a person’s teeth. Even with minimal contact and lightweight gloves, you can end up needing to visit a dentist if you don’t use mouth protection.
No matter how much you may pay for mouth protection, in the long run, you’ll save money avoiding the dentist fees you’ll have to pay. Don’t fear to pay money for mouthguards to safeguard a valuable commodity – your teeth!
The Effective Use of Mouthguards
The most important thing to remember when using combat art mouthguards is that you need to constantly bite down on the guard, and especially bite down on it when there is a possibility of making an impact.
Taking a punch with a too relaxed jaw can still result in problems, even when wearing a mouthguard. Your teeth will be protected, but your jaw will be shaken, causing you to be stunned and unsteady on your feet. The act of clenching your teeth before getting hit in the face keeps your jaw shut, which lessens the possibility of suffering facial and teeth injuries.
Sparring with a thinner mouthguard opens the door to tooth damage since a less protective mouthguard can’t lessen or spread a punch or kick’s force. Thicker mouthguards provide additional shock absorption and cause the strike’s impact to be spread around instead of concentrating at the point of impact.
What to Consider Before Buying Mouthguard
Fit and Comfort
A mouthguard’s fit and comfort should be the number one consideration. A loose-fitting mouthguard will be of no help when you taking a strike. When preparing a boil and bite mouthguard for use, it must be properly molded to your mouth so that it will stay in place during sparring.
If a mouthguard has been correctly fitted, it will hold on to the teeth so tightly that the guard will be tight in your mouth, even if your mouth is open. In the fighting arts, it is crucial that your mouthguard fits so tightly that it stays in place when you are hit in the mouth or face.
Size
Thicker mouthguard provides considerable protection from the shock of a sudden strike. The downside of bigger mouthguards is that they are less compact and curve out from the mouth.
Some mouthguards can cause breathing difficulties. You should select a mouthguard that fits well, has a design that appeals to you, and provides the necessary amount of protection.
Breathability
One aspect to consider is how easy is it to breathe with the mouthguard on. Some mouthguards completely block up the front of your mouth. This means it’s harder to take breaths with your mouth open.
While you should be breathing out of your nose, the truth is that when you are tired — which will happen eventually in a fighting match — you’ll be breathing out of your mouth. If your mouthguard is blocking your breathing ability, you’ll take in less oxygen and feel more tired out.
Boil and Bite Mouthguards
The most basic kind of combat sports mouthguards is the boil and bite mouthguard. These mouthguards are one-size-fits-all mouthguards requiring considerable work to make sure that they fit you properly.
Following the preparation process will ensure that the mouthguard provides solid protection. Boil and bite mouthguards are constructed with a plasticized gel created to become soft when heated in boiling water and hardens once they have cooled.
The procedure allows a fighter to boil the guard and has cooled off, bite down on the guard. This creates an impression of your teeth that hardens to conform to the inside of your mouth.
Advantages
- Most inexpensive guards on the market
- The quickest way to obtain mouth and tooth protection (takes 10 minutes to boil and make a pressure)
- Gives decent security
Disadvantages
- Must self-cast the guard to your mouth
- Most likely, the fit will not be as tight as a custom-fit guard
- There’s a possibility it will be knocked loose when you take a punch or kick
- If you don’t cast the guard problem, it can cause the guard to work poorly or not at all
Buying custom-fit mouthguards is another way to protect your mouth and teeth during sparring and training. They are beneficial because you receive a tight fit and the work is done for you.
The process of making a custom mouthguard entails having a casting made of your teeth (usually done in a dental office), then the finished mouthguard is manufactured and is an exact fit to your mouth.
Custom mouthguards are the answer for the poor fit issues that come with using the boil and bite guards. Custom mouthguards are ideal for fighters who are patient enough to wait for them to be made and can afford the extra money they cost to buy.
They provide the best protection, fit the best, and they won’t leave your mouth when your face or mouth takes a hard punch or kick.
Advantages
- You receive a perfectly fitting guard that is tight enough that you will need to pull it out of your mouth. It will not fit loose enough to use your tongue.
- It won’t shift when you receive a hard punch or kick to the face
- Your breathing and speech won’t be affected as it would with cheaper guards
- They are the right guards for serious fighters who need the most protection
Disadvantages
- The guard impression will need to be made on your own or at a dentist’s office
- Custom mouthguards cost more than boil and bite guards
Keep your mouthguard hygienic by simply rinsing it under very hot water after every sparring session you wear it for. This is enough to kill any germs that might be lurking and left to fester.
Also, keep them inside their case when they are in your gym bag – you don’t want to throw them in uncovered with your sweaty shorts and hand wraps.
