How to properly fit a mouthguard

by Mike

Mouthguards (aka mouthpieces and gumshields) are very important. Hopefully, previous articles have impressed this on you. You should wear a mouthguard whenever you spar or roll and wearing one while you work the bags or do conditioning exercises is a fantastic tool for getting used to the additional stresses of wearing one in the ring.

A properly fitted mouthguard should

• Stay in place without you having to clench your teeth.
  
  
• Not [greatly] interfere with your ability to breathe, talk or drink between rounds.
  
  
• Keep your jaw in place if you take a shot to the button.

How does one properly fit a mouthguard?

1. Make sure your stove is clean, otherwise, you'll be embarrassed when girls come over or you need to take pictures for your Web site. I recommend using vinegar.
   
   
2. Get everything you need ready - pictured below are:
   
   
   • Boiling water (enough to submerge the mouthguard without letting it touch the bottom of the pan.
     
     
   • Tongs (spoon works too) to take the mouthguard out of the boiling water
     
     
   • Cup of cold water to cool the mouthguard before you put it in your mouth
     
     
   • Instructions from the mouthguard manufacturer (this is the most important part)
   
   
   
3. Boil the water. Drop the mouthguard into the boiling water.
   
   30 seconds is generally as long as you want to keep the mouthguard in the water (but be sure to read the directions). If you keep the mouthguard for too short a time, you won't soften the rubber enough to get a good impression and if you keep it in for too long, you melt the damn thing and need to get a new mouthguard.
   
   
4. Use the tongs, take the mouthguard out of the boiling water and put it into the cup of cold water.
   
   This is just for a second, to cool the rubber enough so you can make an impression in the mouthguard without burning your face.
   
   
5. Bite down, hold for 20/30 seconds.
   
   
   This is to make sure the rubber has time to set around your teeth. Use your fingers if necessary.
   
   
6. Run the mouthguard under cold water for about 20/30 seconds.
   
   
7. Put it back in and make sure it still fits OK. If not, you can go through the above steps again, but keep in mind, the more you refit a mouthguard, the less securely it will fit.

General Notes

• If it isn't clear, read the directions the manufacturer provided. The directions for nearly every mouthguard I've used are the same (as listed above), but you don't want to ruin yours.
  
  
• If in doubt, get a cheap one along with the one you intend to use and practice with the cheap one first.
  
  
• In fact, get two, so you can keep one in your bag as a spare.
  
  
• If you are cool enough to get a custom mouthguard, where you make an impression of your teeth in plaster and send it off to a lab somewhere, you obviously don't need to follow these steps. Never try to refit one of those mouthguards, though. You'll have wasted your $80.
  
  
• If you are fitting a double-mouthguard, there will be an annoying red thing in the airway. Leave this in when you re/fit the mouthguard, but take it out before you use it. It's there to keep the airway from closing during the fitting process. I've seen people go through class with it still in and I can never figure out an appropriate way to tell them they looks like fools.