What kind of mouthguards are there is a frequently asked question in the store. In the store we often experience that (unfortunately) many martial artists underestimate the importance of a mouthguard. A frequently heard term is: it is not allowed to hit the head (yet). However, this often happens - especially with beginning martial artists - even if it is unintentional.
Function and importance of a mouthguard
The function of a mouth guard is also not entirely clear to many people. This is mainly due to the term mouth guard or bit. Mouth guards are not only there to protect the teeth and the dentition, but can even prevent jaw fractures and brain damage . A good bit protects against all these possible injuries. In addition, it is often not the blow to the teeth that is the problem, but the teeth that come against each other. A piece of tooth is then easily broken off.
There are many different types of mouth guards, ranging from a few euros to hundreds of euros for a custom-made mouth guard made by the dentist. Even the simplest mouth guard offers excellent protection and will be sufficient for most athletes. These "boil and bite" mouth guards are made of thermoplastic material (often silicone). They are softened in hot water for a short time and then immediately bitten into by the user. This only needs to be done the first time. After each use, the mouth guard can simply be rinsed off.
Shock doctor
The best mouthguards are made by ShockDoctor, among others. ShockDoctor is a renowned brand that not only offers protectors for martial arts, but many other contact sports where there are risks. Examples include: hockey, ice hockey and rugby. So feel free to spend a few extra euros on a good quality mouthguard. New in our range are the Shock Doctor Microfit mouthguards: good quality mouthguards for only 20 euros!
For people with braces we have an affordable option from ShockDoctor: The SDM Smoke . Normally braces are very expensive, but this brace is very friendly priced at 20 euros.