Mouthguard recommendations?

[cheesefrysamurai]

Can anyone recommend a good mouthguard. Brain pad looks cool because it has the breathing vents but reviews are totally mixed

thanks in advance

[Harkon72]

Almost any good brand can be good, Nike, Blitz, Longsdale. The most important thing is to fit it properly. Also, expense doesn't always mean quality or ease of use.

[nyramat911]

I'm a big fan of a custom fitted one-either by the dentist or there are companies online which mail you a kit to make a mold. I've tried standard ones, pro force, shock doctor, etc, and everyone I know who has had a custom fitted one has never gone back to anything else.

[Hawkmoon]

Take your time, cost is no measure of quality!

Sounds mad (I get that ) but the important thing is fit and feel.

A mouth guard does something that money cannot address, at best you can reduce this, but you CANNOT stop it!

A mouth guard restricts your breathing, it reduces the air flow into your lungs through your mouth, simple truth that space, your mouth, is much smaller because it is there!

So for sake of an example .. now add it feels like sandpaper ... enjoy your fight!

Take your time and make sure it fits as you want it to!

I have one, I wear it for running mostly because it reduces the air flow, but other than that it feels fine this one cost me £1.99 (about $1).

A previous guard I had was 5 times that and felt like I had a brick in my mouth, it fitted around my teeth well enough, but interfered with my tongue so added to my 'concern about air flow and breathing, and it 'packed out' my cheeks ... I felt like hamster to be honest!

(It lasted two tournaments)

Take your time and make sure it fits as you want it to!

[Wastelander]

I've tried a variety of mouthguards, including a few different Shock Doctor models. Without a doubt, the best thing I ever did, with regards to mouthguards, is getting a custom-molded one. Gladiator Guards made mine--you order their kit, make a mold of your teeth, send it back, and then they send you a custom mouthguard. It's pretty pricey, but not as much as getting one from a dentist. The nice thing about Gladiator Guards is that they keep your mold on file, and will make you more mouthguards at half the price if you need replacements.

[Spartacus Maximus]

I have always used Shock Doctor brand. I think they are the best thing available short of getting a custom made mouth guard. It does what it is supposed to do and is made to prevent concussions and other severe injuries. That is all you really need so it is not really necessary to have something super-fancy or expensive. Also, this is obvious but focus sparring on getting more skilled at blocking/dodging strikes to your head. That and a decent mouthguard will go a long way. Pretend the protection and pads are not there and fight/spar as if you were not wearing them. Otherwise you may unconsciously adapt to them and come to develop dangerous bad habits.

[IcemanSK]

I'd recommend a dentist-made mouthpiece. Most are around $150, but replacing a tooth is around $900. My dentist charged me $75, because, as he told me, "I had to lower the price because too many patients thought a $2.50 mouthpiece from the sporting goods store will protect them."

Like a good cup, a good mouthpiece is like gold.

[nyramat911]

I have always used Shock Doctor brand. I think they are the best thing available short of getting a custom made mouth guard. It does what it is supposed to do and is made to prevent concussions and other severe injuries. That is all you really need so it is not really necessary to have something super-fancy or expensive. Also, this is obvious but focus sparring on getting more skilled at blocking/dodging strikes to your head. That and a decent mouthguard will go a long way. Pretend the protection and pads are not there and fight/spar as if you were not wearing them. Otherwise you may unconsciously adapt to them and come to develop dangerous bad habits.

My last non-custom one was a shock doctor gel max (back when this was the 2nd highest one they offered!), but because my front teeth stuck out slightly, the gel part molded to them, and the harder plastic was closer to my lip. Consequently, when I moved up to the seniors division (18+), one decent head punch was all it took to split the inside of my lip open.

Based on that, if you choose to go boil and bite, make sure you find one that works for your teeth!

[nyramat911]

I've tried a variety of mouthguards, including a few different Shock Doctor models. Without a doubt, the best thing I ever did, with regards to mouthguards, is getting a custom-molded one. Gladiator Guards made mine--you order their kit, make a mold of your teeth, send it back, and then they send you a custom mouthguard. It's pretty pricey, but not as much as getting one from a dentist. The nice thing about Gladiator Guards is that they keep your mold on file, and will make you more mouthguards at half the price if you need replacements.

I looked at getting a Gladiator Guard (I'll admit, I wanted the fangs), $80 is a fantastic price for a custom mouthguard, and I'd highly recommend them for truly being able to customize your mouthguard to what you want. The only down side is that they don't ship to Australia!

[DWx]

Dentist made is definitely the #1 way to go... but it can be pricey. Not sure if they'll ship to the US but Opro will custom make mouthguards by mail order. They send you an impression kit which you make a mold of your teeth from, just like the dentist does, then send to them and they make it. The high-impact ones start at £42 each:

http://mouthguards.opro.com/