Boxing Mouth Guard
The boxing mouth guard serves to protect fighters from injuries during competition or sparring matches. Even mouth guards injuries in boxing are not uncommon but a lot of the damage can be avoided. The dental fitted custom mouth guard serves to stabilize the jaw as well as protect the teeth.
Although it seems strange in this day and age, boxing mouth guards were illegal in competition. Although the first mouth guard was invented in London in 1870 by Woolf Krauze. The express purpose of this invention was to preventing split lips in fighters that were so serious they could be disfiguring and grounds to stop fights.
By the late 1930s, boxing mouth guards had become mandatory for competitions. A glancing blow to the mouth or a flurry of blows often resulted in bleeding so heavy that matches had to be stopped. The original boxing mouth guards were of gum rubber and although they lacked a lot of the stabilization features of todays mouth guards they helped prevent split lips and unnecessary disfigurement.
In the 1970s, a Canadian pediatric dentist began to work on the modern design for mouthguards. These were aimed at protecting childrens teeth during hockey matches. Boxing mouth guards have benefitted from the design changes initiated by Doctor Wood in Canada.
Boxing is a very rough sport requiring excellent coordination, strength and endurance. It however, can be very hard on the face and boxing mouthguards even during sparring can prevent injuries, which formerly were considered occupational hazards for boxers. Younger individuals who enjoy the sport of boxing require a lighter version of the professional boxers mouth guard.
There are several types of mouth guards available. The off the shelf variety doesnt allow much customization but is very cheap. Boil and bite mouth guards are somewhat better in that they can be customized more to the teeth and adhere somewhat better. However, they also tend to thin out during fitting. Although not ideal the boil and bite is superior to the off the shelf variety in most cases.
Todays best boxing mouthguards are fitted by dentists and made of acrylic which is pliable enough to be comfortable and strong enough to stabilize the jaw and protect the teeth. Dentist fitted boxing mouth guards have a fit that is far superior to most off the shelf mouth guards and also to boil and bite varieties.
Boxing mouth guards are mandatory in this very popular sport. Schools often have regulations regarding the use of mouthguards in any sport where there is a danger of trauma to the lips jaw or face. Custom boxing mouthguards are relatively inexpensive and come in many thicknesses. The thickest being recommended for those engaged in forceful contact sports such as boxing. Very few professional athletes involved in the sport professionally would ever consider even sparring without a boxing mouth guard since the consequences of losing a tooth or scarring on their lips so severe that it impairs their speech. This same protection is also available to athletes in other sports and many sports require them for professional competitions.
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Frequently asked questions from our Dentist, Get help online via phone call. Fortress Mouthguards are manufactured by Race Dental, Sydney’s largest dental laboratory.