Boxing

I happen to be dentist. Let me give a little science here. The mouthpiece will NOT protect your teeth from the force of the blow. The mouthpiece is there to prevent the lower teeth from impacting the upper teeth and breaking. It also prevents your teeth from impacting your soft tissue and making it bleed. As long as you have some soft material between the two arches of teeth, it should work. If you have a crossbite (where the lower teeth are on the outside of your top teeth, you need a double. A double will also do a better job of preventing the lower teeth from cutting your soft tissue. If you wear a single, you must keep your mouth closed and bite on the upper. Being hit with an open mouth is more likely to injure your condyle (where your lower jaw connects with the upper jaw near the ear. That is a ligament and the movement of the lower jaw from a blow can cause a tear. Keeping the jaws together when you get hit dissipates the forces over a greater area.

Thank you for the information, however for those boxers who have full dentures (top & bottom) an uneven bit is there anything that can be done?

1. Do NOT wear your dentures while boxing.
2. Not a subject we've discussed in any continuing education classes.

Thanks, Doc.
I have started to wear partials in last several years.
Lost another tooth 2 weeks ago. Over the last 8 years - have lost 7 teeth.
Partials out - I look like a very bad hockey player.

I am a little concerned about fitting a double with my partials out.
Especially boil and bite.
Worried that I might pop some remaining crowns.
Have never worn a double and only singles - long, long ago.

In my stupid post college apartment/backyard bouts in the 70s and 80s - we almost never wore mouth protection.

Very good point about always sparring with your mouth closed. Wasn't easy for me to learn that, but then again, nothing about BOXING was easy for me as a beginner! I trained with the mouth guard in all the time, even for roadwork, mitt work, heavy bag work, etc., just to accustom myself to breathing through my nose.

Thanks, great and interesting explanation 👍👍👍

Thanks, guys, for all!

Always use one, same for headgear. To clean use a denture tablet and use it as per directions for dentures. Nope, no dentures yet ;-)
Hope that's helpful.

Hey - years ago a trainer told me to wear the mouthpiece during bag work also - jjust to get accustom to it for breathing etc. "weekend warriors" can go some time without sparring so it is good to use it during workouts so it feels natural /

I made the same point, then I saw yours, sorry mate! I'll meet you in the ring if you have a beef with me about my plagiarism! 😈😅😆

Hey - I am happy to fight you for ANY reason!!! <G>

Yes, I often do that too

I think it’s also good to that with the headgear, too. Especially if competition mandates the headgear.

yes - again it is so it feels natural

Tried a double moutpiece in the beginning. Never really worked for me.
Went from cheap boiling to semi-cheap two(or three?) -component over the years.
The cheap ones may fit as good as the ones with more components with several attempts/luck/developing "skill". But you may burn some mouthpieces in the process.

All in all the ca. 20 euro for a better mouthpiece pay off.

I hear mostly good things about the dentist stuff. But that tends to be a bit more expensive.

When I first started boxing about 17 years ago, I went to a dentist who turned out to be an ex-amateur boxer. He custom-molded a single mouthguard/gumshield for me which is still the only one I use today due to its excellent fit. I used to use a cleaning solution for it but these days I mostly just rinse it out thoroughly after use.

It was a good investment. Cost me AUS$90 which is not bad for something that I have regularly used for 17 years.

When I first started boxing about 17 years ago, I went to a dentist who turned out to be an ex-amateur boxer. He custom-molded a single mouthguard/gumshield for me which is still the only one I use today due to its excellent fit. I used to use a cleaning solution for it but these days I mostly just rinse it out thoroughly after use.

Every time the gloves go on, my mouth guard goes in. I favor a double over a single. Mostly clean it with warm water after use. Soak it peroxide depending on number of uses per week.

Mouthguard is very necessary and protective. It’s more important than a headgear.

Agree 100% - most important piece of your equipment.

I use Impact mouthguard. It’s relatively pricey, but it’s high quality.

Go for Shurfit. They fit nice when you mold them, secure and look cool.

Do you use one for sparring?
Do you use a single version or a “breather” one?
Do you use any cleaning solution for it in your carrying case?

If you a missing a lot of teeth - what kind of mouthpiece would you buy?
Am guessing a custom molded one?

I use a mouthpiece 100% of the time - sparring, boxing competitively (gym, amateur or private). Use a single as the double or breather does not allow good breathing for me. Rinse it with hot water after use, store it in a case until I get home. Then brush it with toothpaste thoroughly and hot water rinse. Ready for the next encounter.
Yes, custom-made if you can, especially if you have teeth/ palate issues.