The Benefits of Wearing a Mouth guard in BJJ: From Protection to Performance

Did you know that more than 5 million teeth are pulled out a year; many of these are during sports activities? It was reported that 13 – 39% of dental injuries are sports-related, costing people hundreds of dollars per visit! This article discusses the importance of wearing a mouth guard, finding the best mouth guards for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and how to keep your guard in the best shape possible!

BJJ Mouthguard: Why You Need to Protect Your Mouth

Taking on any martial art let alone Brazilian Jiu-jitsu is a great way to push yourself physically. As combat sports explode in popularity and people become more hooked on training, it is important to find ways to stay away from injuries.

The American Dental Association estimates that mouth guards prevent more than 200,000 oral injuries a year. When training in grappling-based martial arts like Jiu-jitsu you run the risk of severely damaging your teeth in the process. Dental work is not only costly but most of the time very painful. Wearing protective gear in the form of a  mouth guard on a regular basis is the best way to avoid serious injury during intense training sessions or tough competitions.

Why Are Mouth guards Important?

It is stated that 67% of Americans admit that they do not wear a mouth guard during practices or games. Many sports now mandate that you wear a mouth guard and jiu-jitsu may be following suit. There is no reason you should not be wearing a mouth guard in a sport like Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. Saving yourself from a costly trip to the dentist is more than enough reason to get something that lasts.

We know that wearing a mouth guard, whether it be in Football, Mixed Martial Arts, or Jiu-JItsu, can be a pain.

Most guards you get these days are made of cheap material, hard to breathe in, get unsanitary very quickly, and are just very uncomfortable to wear even when molded to your mouth. 

This is where our friends from Impact Mouth Guards came in clutch with an awesome product. Impact Mouth guards checked off all the boxes we needed when it came to having the right guard in our mouth. The custom Grappler’s Graveyard mouth guard was a bit more expensive but has been worth every penny so far.

It looks great, fits perfectly in our mouths, and is not uncomfortable to train in. 

How Mouthguards Protect Your Mouth

Mouth guards cannot prevent an elbow or knee from hitting you in the face during an intense sparring session but it can lessen the damage that it has. Mouth guards spread out the impact and reduce any damage by absorbing the contact.

Sports injuries contribute to one-third of all injuries to the oral cavity and face according to a paper in Sports Medicine. Wearing a mouth guard is proven to reduce the risk of having these types of injuries that end up costing you hundreds to thousands of dollars.

A BJJ mouthguard is one of the least expensive items to get when training in a contact sport. Impact mouth guards have a number of options that range from $20 to as high as $100. The more you invest in this essential item the less likely you are to suffer from broken or fractured teeth.

The custom mouth guard comes with a personalized kit that makes it super easy to mold a guard that is built to last, made of dentist-grade material and checks all the boxes of what a good guard should be like. 

Remember, a good mouth guard has all three of the following characteristics:

• • Allows for easy breathing

• • Comfortable to wear when molded

• • Made from high-quality materials that are built to last

Types of Mouthguards

Finding the right mouth guard for you is extremely important when attempting to stay protected while participating in combat sports. If you’re are looking for the best BJJ mouthguard options, then we recommend the best mouth guard producers; Impact Mouth Guards. These incredible mouthpieces provide impact protection and prevent injuries not only to the top teeth but to the rest of the mouth as well!

Quick-Fit 

The Quick-Fit mouth guard is the traditional, comfortable mouthguard that you are used to but at Impact, they do things a bit differently!

Custom mouth guards can be a tight fit and do not give much space for teeth to shift while wearing braces or having Invisalign. So Impact took the best quality materials and made it more friendly for those that need that perfect fit over their braces. If you are stuck with metal in your mouth, the Quick-Fit mouth guard by Impact is highly recommended!

Boil and Bite Mouth Guards

The Boil and Bite mouth guard is highly recommended for people who don’t have to deal with the struggles of having braces. The process of molding your Impact Quick-Fit mouth guard is super simple. Just bring some water to a boil on the stove on the stove, drop the guard in the boiling water, and wait for the thermoplastic material to get soft! 

Once soft, take the mouthpiece out of the hot water and wait a few seconds for it to cool partially. Then just bite down! You know are ready to take on all matches without any worries!

Boil and Bite BJJ mouthguards are extremely handy and reliable when looking for good-fitting protection! 

Custom-fit BJJ Mouthguards

Going with the Impact custom mouthguard to protect your teeth is a much safer option than going with the regular plastic you can find at your local sporting goods stores but it may not be for everyone!

If you have braces or Invisalign, your best bet would be to go with a Quick-Fit guard. Custom mouthguards are not good for those situations where you have braces, Invisalign, or shifting teeth. They do not give much wiggle room.

Another option for those who wear braces is the complete protection, dual layer mouthguard given by orthodontists.  These guards have a heavy-duty rubber frame allowing for maximum protection of your upper teeth, lower teeth, and the soft tissues inside your mouth!  

Nonetheless, this modern-design mouthpiece has been a game-changer. Having a properly fitted mouth guard is important for BJJ practitioners to feel protected on the mats!

Super Easy 6-Step Process

Creating a custom guard that will protect your teeth for all your training purposes has never been easier!

They will send you a kit in the mail with the provided materials and a return label. Follow the directions in the pamphlet they send you and slap the return label back on! Once they have processed your molds, the mouthpiece will be on its way to your doorstep! 

Going with the custom mouthpiece is a great option for those that want something more personalized, are serious about their training, and are looking for a mouthpiece that can offer solid protection! 

Benefits of wearing a mouth guard

As stated previously, mouthpieces provide protection for one of the most important tools in your body; your teeth! Having a strong pair of chompers helps with food digestion, self-confidence, and so much more. It is important to keep them safe while participating in somewhat dangerous sports.

Not only that, but studies have shown that mouth guards can aid in shock absorption and defense against head injuries such as concussions so you’re always ready for that next roll! 

Lastly, people wear mouthpieces in order to protect soft tissue inside the mouth. This extra layer of defense provides good protection against busted lips and torn-up gums!

Rules and regulations relating to mouthpieces

As of 2023, there are no rules stating that one must wear a mouth guard during competition. Athletes have the choice to use the guard for increased protection if they so choose. But ultimately, it is up to personal preference whether a competitior wears a mouthpiece or not in the sport of Jiu-Jitsu. 

This is different compared to some sports such as folk-style wrestling. High-school wrestlers who have braces are required to wear a mouth guard that will fit properly over their teeth. Failure to abide by this rule will lead to disqualification from the competition

This rule really puts into perspective how powerful a mouthpiece can be. But why is it so important for teens with braces to wear one!

Well, the brackets found in the mouth of a child who has braces raises the chance of cuts to the soft tissue inside the mouth.

Not only that, but braces are expensive and can be broken very easily if enough force is administered to the mouth.

Lastly, brackets increase the chance of chipped or broken teeth. It is so very important that young men and women with braces protect their mouths by wearing a mouth guard while participating in a combat sport.

Downsides of wearing a mouthguard

Although there are many positive effects of wearing a mouthpiece, there are some clear side effects when putting the gel frame in your mouth.

1. Communication

It is important to note that talking with a mouthpiece, no matter how high quality, will obstruct your speech. Although this is pretty obvious, it can be a hindrance when asking questions or talking to teammates during practice.

2. Dehydration

At times, mouthpieces can cause dehydration and a cotton-mouth. This can be difficult when in a competition or a tough match. There’s nothing worse than being gassed out with no water left in your mouth. Although this can be a big hindrance, the extra protection given by the mouth guard is worth the risk of cotton-mouth.

3. Discomfort

If you’re not careful about what type of mouth guard you choose to wear, you may find discomfort in having a mouthpiece. Of course, it is not natural to have rubber/plastic in your mouth. If you’re experiencing discomfort with your mouth guard, we suggest trying a custom-fit mouthpiece that rests on your teeth perfectly

Although these hindrances are common in average mouthpieces, Impact Mouth Guards do an incredible job of keeping moisture in your mouth while staying comfortable and allowing for communication!

Taking Care of Your Mouth guard

Taking care of your mouth guard is super easy. 

Here are some easy tips for you and your teammates to keep your sports mouthguards in tip-top shape:

• • Rinse in cold water and clean with toothpaste

• • Soak it in a non-alcoholic mouth rinse

• • Store in a container

• 
  
  • Keep it out of warm places to avoid any kind of warping

If you have not already done so we highly recommend using a mouth guard. Impact’s custom mouth guard has provided us with a new layer of safety in our training. Whether you’re a veteran in the world of Jiu-Jitsu or you’re taking your first class, it is important to have proper protective wear when you roll. You will never be able to prevent every injury while training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu but adding a mouth guard will give you a fighting chance to lower any accidental impact.