As you might probably know already, Muay Thai is one of the most dangerous sports on the entire globe. Unlike Boxing, it alchemizes kicking and punching techniques, which are both extremely effective and can cause a lot of damage. Therefore, injuries are more common in Muay Thai than in many other martial arts, also because of its aggressive nature.
One of the most common injuries isn’t what you initially might think, which is dental injuries. Let’s see how we can solve that.
Wearing a Mouthguard in Muay Thai is a must, as jaw and mouth injuries are extremely common in this combative sport. Therefore, taking all the precautions you have available is critical in keeping your dental health in check. It’s also illegal to compete without one, and that’s for a good reason.
In the world of combat sports, protection is paramount, and your dental health should never be underestimated. In this article, we’ll explore the importance of safeguarding your smile during training and competition.
Whether you’re a seasoned fighter or just beginning your Muay Thai journey, understanding the benefits and risks of Mouthguard use or avoidance of Mouthguard use is essential for making an informed decision that could safeguard both your oral health and your passion for this awe-inspiring martial art.
Should I Wear a Mouthguard in Muay Thai?
What we’ll cover in this article is, first, whether you should wear a Mouthguard when doing Muay Thai. We’ll see when wearing one is mandatory and when you don’t have to wear one. Then, we’ll review the primary benefits of wearing one and finish the article by helping you choose one that’ll be personalized and suitable to your needs.
So first, should you wear a Muay Thai Mouthguard?
You should wear a Mouthguard in Muay Thai, as your dental health is at risk when you get hit in the face, either by a punch, kick, elbow, or knee strike. As a result, protecting your mouth is key, which is the entire purpose of wearing a professional, customizable, and approved Muay Thai Mouthguard.
When you attend a Muay Thai competition, you won’t be able to step into the ring without a Mouthguard. You also won’t be able to compete without additional equipment, such as fighting gloves and hand wraps. If you’re interested in learning about the mandatory equipment in Muay Thai competitions, training, and sparring, follow the link.
At last, there isn’t a reason not to wear one other than the fact that it’s going to be less comfortable. However, as you’ll see in the upcoming section, wearing a Mouthguard will help you focus more on the fight itself, as you’ll know in your mind that you’re protected.
For that, however, you must get a high-quality Mouthguard, which we’ll see how you can find in the 3rd part (it’s coming soon!)
The Benefits of Wearing a Muay Thai Mouthguard
Now that you know that wearing a Mouthguard whenever you’re doing Muay Thai is mandatory for keeping your dental health in check, let’s review the four primary benefits you must know to reassure everyone here that it’s a must-have piece of protective equipment.
Knowing the benefits of having a high-quality Mouthguard will only benefit you, and let me explain why. Your mind will be at ease if you know what you’re doing is good for you. So knowing the benefits of wearing a Muay Thai Mouthguard will free up your mind and boost mindfulness when wearing one.
Without further introduction, let’s dive into the 1st benefit!
Jaw protection
The first benefit of a high-quality Mouthguard is jaw protection. This is one of the primary benefits of wearing such a piece of protective equipment, which is, in simpler terms, absorbing damage. We all know how painful a fierce cross to the face can be. Therefore, it’s important we protect our jaw, which is a pressure point of our body, as best as possible.
A Mouthguard can help protect the jaw by cushioning against impact, which can help prevent jaw fractures or dislocations.
Dental protection
The next benefit we’ll review is dental protection. Again, you likely know how painful a side kick or any other strike to the face can be. We must protect our teeth and mouth in case where we get hit in the face. While also providing jaw support, a properly fitted Mouthguard’s main purpose is to protect our dental health.
A properly fitted Mouthguard can absorb and disperse the impact of a blow, reducing the risk of dental injuries.
There’s a key point I want to address here. A properly fitted Mouthguard will protect your jaw and dental health. However, if you don’t take the time to suit it properly to your mouth, it will provide less protection, which you want to avoid like fire. So make sure to mold your Mouthguard prior to using it.
Here’s how you do it.
Concussion prevention
These conclusions do not necessarily suggest that wearing a mouthguard provides sufficient protection against concussion, and mouthguards should not be considered a replacement for other protective headgear.
SOURCE
While a Mouthguard primarily protects the teeth and jaw, there is some evidence to suggest that it may also reduce the risk of concussions by absorbing shock and stabilizing the jaw during impact.
However, it’s nothing scientifically proven yet. But you might be able to benefit from knowing that some fighters have found this to be true. So whether it boosts your confidence is up to you and what you believe. Regardless, concussion prevention, because you’re wearing a Mouthguard, is definitely possible.
Improved focus
And the last benefit summarizes why you want to know about the benefits of Muay Thai Mouthguards. Improved focus is the last benefit we’ll review. Let’s see why it’s the case.
Wearing a Mouthguard can provide some psychological comfort, allowing you to focus more on your techniques and training without worrying about dental injuries.
All the benefits we have discussed thus far will help you focus more on the fight itself. Think about a scenario where you’re sparring against an advanced and aggressive Muay Thai disciple while not wearing a Mouthpiece. What do you think will happen? You would be worrying about keeping your face and dental health in check, so you won’t be 100% in the fight.
However, by wearing one, you’ll be able to boost focus and mindfulness by having fewer thoughts about your safety.
How to Choose a Muay Thai Mouthguard
Alright. So what we’ll do now is cover the basic types of Mouthguards in Muay Thai and explain who should buy which type. This will help you understand the entire craft of choosing a high-quality Mouthpiece to ensure your dental health is in check.
Without further intro, let’s delve into the different types.
Stock Mouthguard
These are pre-formed and come ready to wear. They are the least expensive but may not provide a perfect fit and may be less comfortable.
These are suitable for people with a limited budget. Assuming you buy a stock one, you must mold it to fit your mouth. Without molding a stock Mouthguard, you’ll end up with insufficient protection, which is the last thing you want.
For the highest-quality stock that will provide enough protection, here’s the one I recommend.
SAFEJAWZ Mouthguard Slim Fit
Boil-and-bite Mouthguard
The second type we’ll review is the boil-and-bite. These are also considered stock ones, but you must mold them before the initial use.
These can be molded to your teeth by boiling them in hot water and then biting down on them to shape them into your mouth. They offer a better fit than stock Mouthguards and are relatively affordable.
These are of higher quality than stock Mouthpiece, which comes ready to use and doesn’t have to be pre-molded.
Here’s the one I encourage you to get if you’re interested in getting a boil-and-bite mouthpiece.
Delta Dental Athletic Sports Mouth Guard
Custom-fitted Mouthguard
These are made by dental professionals and provide the best fit and protection. They are more expensive but offer the highest level of comfort and protection.
If you’re serious about your dental health, you want to get a custom-fitted Mouthguard. You have many services online today that’ll help you ensure your dental protection, which will be more expensive. However, once again, for those of you who are serious about your safety, this is the way to go.
Here’s the one I encourage you to buy out of this type.
Impact Custom Professional Muay Thai Mouthguard
Final Words
And this is everything you need to know about the benefits of Mouthguards, whether you should wear them during Muay Thai practice and fighting, and how to choose one that’ll be optimized for your needs.
Now, I want you to make a promise to yourself. Although you might not completely understand this, the amount of regret you’ll have if you injure yourself severely during Muay Thai training—is unbearable. I’ve experienced a few injuries thus far, some more severe than others.
You only really appreciate your health once it’s gone. So when I injured my neck severely during BJJ training, I ate myself from the inside. It was difficult to not think about what if I took an extra step to avoid hurting myself. So to avoid that from happening to you, always take extra safety steps, such as wearing a Mouthguard all the time.
If you’re interested in reading the ultimate guide to Muay Thai equipment, including everything you need to know about the best protective and training gear, follow this link.
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