A mouthguard is the cheapest piece of protective gear you will buy and the one with the worst consequences if you skip it. Dental work costs many times what a guard does.
Here is how to fit one properly, what usually goes wrong, and which to pick.
How to fit a boil and bite mouthguard
- Boil the water. Bring a pot to a rolling boil, then take it off the heat.
- Soften the guard. Lower it in for 30 to 60 seconds using a spoon or tongs. Do not leave it longer, and do not use a microwave.
- Cool it briefly. Take it out and run it under cold water for a second or two. It should be soft but not hot enough to burn your mouth. Test it against your lip first.
- Bite down. Put it in, line it up against your upper teeth, and bite firmly and evenly. Push your tongue against the front of it and suck in, so it pulls tight against your teeth and gums.
- Hold for 20 to 30 seconds, then take it out without distorting the shape.
- Set it. Put it straight into cold water until it hardens completely.
- Check the fit. It should stay in place without you clenching. If it drops or feels loose, you can usually repeat the process once.
The four things that usually go wrong
- The water is still boiling and the guard stays in too long. It goes floppy and loses its shape. Off the heat, 30 to 60 seconds.
- Biting too hard. You push through the material and thin out the part that is meant to protect you. Firm and even, not maximum force.
- Not cooling it properly. Take it out warm and put it in a case, and the impression relaxes.
- Fitting it to the bottom teeth. Standard guards are moulded to the upper teeth.
Which mouthguard to buy
Plain Venum, $6
Black or white, adult and kid sizes. The cheapest guard we stock and a sensible first one.
Printed guards, $8
The same protection with a print on the front. We carry a Cedar of Lebanon design in black and white, a cross design in black and white in kid and adult sizes, and a few novelty prints.
Venum Predator, $12
Black, white, orange or red, with a thicker moulding layer than the plain models.
Buying for a child
Children need a smaller guard, not an adult one trimmed down. The Cross guards come in a kid size, and so does the plain Venum. Refit a child's guard more often than your own, because their teeth are still moving.
When to replace it
Replace a mouthguard when it is torn, when the bite impression has flattened out, or when it stops staying in place on its own. For anyone sparring regularly that tends to be about once a season. Sooner if you grind or clench.
Looking after it
- Rinse with cold water after every session. Hot water will warp it.
- Let it dry before it goes back in the case, and use a case with vents.
- Do not leave it in a car or on a windowsill. Heat deforms it.
See the full range in mouthguards, or the rest of the kit in protective gear. Cash on delivery anywhere in Lebanon, delivered in 1 to 5 days, or come to the store in Hazmieh, near Center Mar Elias.