Dental and jaw injuries are a real risk in boxing , whether during light sparring or serious matches. A seemingly "slight" punch can result in a significant impact to the jaw, leading to cracked, knocked-out teeth, and even TMJ (TMJ) injuries.
Sports medicine data shows that orofacial injuries are among the most common injuries in contact sports and often occur due to neglected protection.
Therefore, mouthguards are not an optional accessory, but mandatory safety equipment for boxers at all levels. Mouthguards absorb and distribute impact, protect teeth and gums, and reduce the risk of jaw and brain injuries.
This article will clearly discuss the function of boxing mouthguards, their types, and how to choose the right mouthguard, so you can train and compete more safely.
What Is a Boxing Mouthguard?
A boxing mouthguard is a protective device worn inside the mouth to protect the teeth, gums, and jaw from impact during boxing training or matches. A mouthguard works by absorbing and distributing the impact of punches, preventing direct force from hitting the teeth or jaw.
Without this protection, the risk of cracked teeth, broken teeth, split lips, and even jaw (TMJ) injuries increases dramatically, even from a single unexpected blow. That's why mouthguards are mandatory during sparring and fighting, not just during official matches.
Sparring still involves hard contact, and mouth injuries often occur during training due to athletes being careless. A proper mouthguard helps keep the jaw more stable, reduces the risk of minor concussions, and gives boxers more confidence when exchanging punches.
Protective Function of Boxing Teeth
The primary function of a boxing mouthguard is to protect teeth from direct impact when receiving a punch. In contact sports like boxing, impacts to the mouth can cause cracked, broken, or even knocked out teeth if unprotected. A mouthguard helps absorb and distribute the impact energy.
This prevents direct pressure on the teeth and surrounding soft tissues, such as the gums and lips. Furthermore, mouthguards also reduce the risk of jaw injury and pressure on the head.
By keeping the jaw in a more stable position, mouthguards help reduce the risk of jaw dislocation and reduce the transmission of impact to the skull, which can result in mild concussions.
What Are the Benefits of Using a Mouthguard While Boxing?
1. Reduces the risk of broken and missing teeth
A mouthguard is essential basic protection when boxing, as human teeth are designed for chewing, not for absorbing the force of 10-16 oz boxing gloves .
Without protection, a single clean blow to the jaw can instantly crack, break, or dislodge a tooth. Mouthguards work by absorbing and distributing impact energy across the tooth surface, preventing pressure from being concentrated on a single, vulnerable area.
Additionally, the mouthguard acts as a stabilizer. When the chin is hit, the jaw's natural reflex is to close tightly, which is where many cases of chipped teeth occur due to the upper and lower teeth clashing.
2. Reduces the Potential for Mild Concussion
A mouthguard during boxing isn't just about protecting your teeth from breaking or your lips from being ripped. It serves a much more crucial purpose: helping protect the brain. Many people don't realize that when the lower jaw is hit by a punch, such as an uppercut or a hook, the impact forces the jaw toward the base of the skull.
This is where a mouthguard acts as a shock absorber, absorbing some of the impact energy and reducing the vibrations transmitted to the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), an area very close to brain structures.
By reducing the transmission of energy from the jaw to the skull, the risk of mild concussions and even loss of consciousness (knockouts) can be significantly reduced. This is why mouthguards are recommended in contact sports.
Also Read: Basic Boxing Techniques: A Guide to Punching and Defending
3. Protects Lips, Tongue & Gums
Tears on the lips, tongue, and gums are often more painful and take longer to heal. This is due to the moist, bacteria-filled mouth.
Without a guard, a single clean blow to the face can result in bruising, even open wounds inside the mouth that can interfere with eating, speaking, and even subsequent training. A mouthguard acts as a physical barrier between hard, sharp teeth and soft tissues like the lips and inner cheeks.
Without this device, a blow could cause your teeth to "cut" your lip from the inside. Furthermore, a mouthguard also protects your tongue, preventing you from biting it when your jaw is suddenly struck by a blow.
Types of Boxing Mouthguards
1. Stock Mouthguard
Stock mouthguards are the most basic and readily available type of boxing mouthguard. Their main characteristics are: they are pre-formed, cannot be adjusted to fit the teeth, and are ready to wear without heating or molding.
Typically made of standard rubber or plastic, they are the most affordable of all mouthguard types. These mouthguards don't conform to the contours of your teeth and jaw, providing limited protection and often offering less than optimal comfort.
Many users find it loose, difficult to breathe, or require constant biting to keep it from falling off. Stock mouthguards are suitable for beginners, light training, or temporary use. However, they are not recommended for intense sparring or serious athletes.
2. Boil And Bite Mouthguard
The Boil and Bite Mouthguard is the most common type of boxing mouthguard, especially among beginners and intermediate athletes. It's quite simple to use: soak the mouthguard in hot water for a few seconds until it softens, then bite down and press it into the shape of your teeth.
This process allows the mouthguard to conform to the wearer's jaw contour without the need for a custom impression from a dentist, making it practical and quick to wear. In terms of comfort, the boil and bite fit is moderate.
Because it's more comfortable and stable than a stock mouthguard, although it's still less precise than a professional custom mouthguard. For regular boxing training and light to moderate sparring, this type of mouthguard is quite effective in protecting the teeth and jaw from impact.
3. Custom Mouthguard
A custom mouthguard is a protective mouthguard made from a mold/scan of your teeth, then manufactured in a lab (usually by a dentist) for a precise fit. It's not loose, bulky, and won't make you want to take it off every 30 seconds.
Because their shape "follows" your teeth and bite, custom mouthguards are generally considered the option with the most optimal fit and protection compared to ready-made types, although the consequences are: they are the most expensive and require a visit to the clinic.
Custom mouthguards are more likely to "stick" during impact and are more comfortable to wear when out of breath. A small study in boxers also reported higher levels of retention/comfort satisfaction with custom mouthguards compared to boil-and-bite mouthguards.
Also Read: 5 Differences Between Boxing and Kickboxing That Beginners Need to Know
How to Choose the Right Boxing Mouthguard
If you're training for boxing but choose a mouthguard haphazardly, or "just because it's there," this could be fatal. The American Dental Association (ADA) emphasizes that a well-fitting mouthguard reduces the risk of dental/orofacial injuries.
Here are some steps to choose the right mouthguard:
1. Select Thickness & Material
The most common and recommended material for sports mouthguards is EVA, including those made with injection molding or layering techniques for heavy contact sports. Regarding thickness, thicker mouthguards generally provide better shock absorption, but at the expense of comfort.
Biomechanical studies on custom-fitted mouthguards show that thickness affects shock absorption and impact displacement. In the context of boxing, look for a mouthguard that's thick enough but not so thick that it makes you out of breath.
Also Read:Kickboxing Is: History, Basic Techniques, and Benefits
2. Breathing & Speaking Comfort
A good mouthguard should allow you to breathe normally and speak briefly without difficulty. A common problem with cheap or stock mouthguards is that you have to bite down frequently to keep them in place. This can be quite disruptive to breathing and speaking.
The Academy for Sports Dentistry has previously highlighted that stock guards can interfere with breathing/speech and offer the lowest level of protection.
3. Security Standards & Certification
To comply with standards, try to choose a mouthguard by following professional guidelines/references, such as:
- ASTM F697 is a standard of practice regarding the protection & use of mouth guards.
- The Academy for Sports Dentistry emphasizes custom mouthguards made from FDA-approved materials and should be professionally inspected for fit and function.
How to Use & Care for Your Mouthguard
When inserting a mouthguard, make sure your hands are clean and then rinse it with cool/room temperature water. If it's a custom or boil-and-bite type, position it snugly against your upper teeth (they're generally safer to wear on the upper teeth), press until it "locks," then bite down gently to secure it in place.
A proper mouthguard fits without you having to bite down. A quick test is to see if you can still breathe normally and talk without feeling like you're going to gag. If it's loose, cuts your gums, or makes it difficult to breathe, it's a sign of an incorrect fit or the wrong size.
After practice, don't be the person who keeps your mouthguard. Rinse it immediately, then clean it with a soft brush and mild soap (or a mouthguard solution). Then rinse it again and air dry it before storing it.
Buy a Safe Mouthguard Now and Become More of a Boxing Pro!
A mouthguard is a safety investment that costs far less than dental treatment after a blow. Once a tooth is cracked or knocked out, it can be costly, time-consuming, and can even put a stop to your workout. Invest your time and money now to get maximum protection for your teeth.
Choose a mouthguard based on your needs and training level. Beginners can start with a basic one, but it's essential to have a good fit. Those who regularly spar or compete should seriously consider maximum protection. Ultimately, prevention is better than regret. Happy training, Svargans!
