MMA Gloves

Gum Shields or mouth guards are worn in many sports and are also used to prevent dental conditions such as those caused by teeth grinding or bruxism as this condition is known. Although the name might suggest their main job is the shield the gums they are often worn primarily to protect the wearers teeth. But mouthguards are not limited to just protecting your teeth and they do also protect the gums and can reduce damage to your jaw bone and other parts of the mouth.

As no two mouths are the same shape it is imperative that your gum shield is a perfect fit. Due to this when you buy a new mouth guard you are able to mould it so that it shapes itself around your teeth and gums giving you the custom fit that is required. To mould a gum shield you simply submerge it in boiling water for a few minutes to soften the texture and then run it under a cold tap for a few seconds to cool it down a bit. Once it’s no longer too hot but is still soft put it in your mouth and then bite down on it and hold the position for a minute or so. Then you should have a perfectly moulded gum shield. This is known as the boil and bite method or the boil in the bag approach. When you buy a mouth guard it will come with its own detailed instructions which you should follow to ensure you get the right fit.

The above applies for the retail versions of mouthguards but if you want a professional grade gum shield it might be worth paying your dentist a visit and get them to make a shield for you. Although this option will probably be more expensive than an off the shelf boil in the bag mouth guard. Perhaps speak to your trainer or coach and see what they recommend.

Sports that require a Gum Shield

There are many sports that require the use of a gum shield. Mixed Martial Arts is just one of them but along with a pair of MMA gloves are perhaps the most important piece of kit you can have is a mouth guard. Anyone playing a contact sport would benefit from a mouth guard and this is just not limited to combat sports like MMA, Muay Thai or boxing. Rugby is a good example of a sport that the player should always wear a gum shield for. If you are unsure if your sport requires a gum shield it is better to be safe than sorry and prevent any accidents from occurring by being prepared with a good fitting mouth guard.

Gum Shield Brands

If you have decided that a mouth guard is for you and you’d rather not risk losing any teeth or gums then it’s probably worth knowing a bit more about the different types and brands that make these guards. Shock Doctor is a well known company making shields and their snazzy designs make them great for those who want to express their personality in the ring or on the field. Makura also have a good line of gum shield for both adults and juniors but there are many more manufacturers of gum shield to have a look at so you should be able to find one that meets your needs and budget.