Safety in football has been at the forefront of conversation over the last number of years. Football is an intense, contact sport so injuries can happen, but much has been done to mitigate the frequency of these occurrences. Such as introducing new rules, like penalties for hitting a defenseless receiver, targeting the head area, and pulling on a player’s facemask, to name a few. On the other side of the coin, the equipment that players are wearing has seen significant improvement when it comes to dealing with impact and lowering the chances of injuries.
One of the staples of contact sports and especially football over the years when it comes to safety equipment is a mouth guard (gum shield). This small bit of equipment should not be overlooked when it comes to player safety and can be a large factor in keeping players protected in practice and on game day. This small piece of equipment helps to reduce oral injuries to teeth, lips, mouth, and the jaw.
Another HUGE injury reducing factor when it comes to mouthguards is they potentially lessen concussion risk. Studies have suggested that they could decrease the risk due to the way they absorb shock and reduce the movement caused by a collision to the jaw. With concussions being very prevalent in football, reducing this risk is imperative to staying on the field, having a long healthy career, and general wellness in everyday life.
Here are the Best Mouth Guards for Football
1. SISU Mouth Guard Max
The SISU mouthguard stands out from a lot of the other mouthguards on the market. The reason this line of mouthguard is different from others is for it being known as the “thinnest mouthguard ever.” Mouthguards commonly are pretty bulky; this often makes it hard to talk during practice and games and makes it a hassle hydrating, as you regularly have to take it out to drink. SISU has developed this mouthguard to make it feel like you’re not even wearing one. This allows you to talk and communicate freely and drink from bottles while not compromising safety. Thus, this decreases the chances of taking your mouthguard out and losing it, as well as getting sick from touching it with dirty hands (Which is welcomed post-pandemic!).
Although SISU Mouth Guards have less material than other mouthguards on the market, they work by fitting to each user’s mouth perfectly; it ensures every corner of your mouth has protection from impact. The holes in the mouthguard allows for movement during a direct collision, which allows for the force of this impact to disperse throughout the whole mouth guard instead of just one area.
Although it’s smaller and allows you to breathe, talk, and drink a lot easier, it’s just as protective as other more bulky mouth guards. As each SISU mouthguard is basically a custom fit, if you’re involved in a substantial impact, it’s so well-fitting that it doesn’t pop out like you often see on an awesome big hit compilation video online. This boil and bite mouth guard also works with braces, but it’s advised to work with a dental professional when fitting. SISU mouth guards also have a dental warranty for a whopping $35,000. Overall, a fantastic mouth guard that every user will be delighted to wear.
2. Shock Doctor Max Airflow Lip Guard
This no mold mouth guard allows for a perfect, instant fit for all people, even those of you that wear braces! This mouth guard protects the whole mouth and lip area and holds the mouth in a comfortable position that allows for extra oxygen intake. Air Flow is the main feature of this mouth guard – the great design allows ample air intake, so on those long drives where you’re starting to get winded, you’re still able to keep safe and keep your mouthguard in, instead of taking it out to try and catch your breath. It’s created from medical grade silicone making it flexible and durable. It’s also BPA free, latex-free, and phthalate-free, making it safe in more ways than one! The low-grade bite down allows for more comfort when in the mouth, while still offering ample amounts of protection.
Design-wise it’s almost as if there’s an unlimited amount of designs of the mouth guard that you can choose from. There are a variety of colors, chrome looks, vampire teeth, pirate themes, comic graphics, and the list goes on! I imagine whatever your team color or mascot is, Shock Doctor Max Airflow Lip Guard themes will match in some way. Shock Doctor mouthguards have been at the forefront of technological advancement for mouth guards so you won’t go wrong with one of their high-quality pieces of equipment. This mouthguard also comes with a $10,000 dental warranty.
3. Oral Mart Smart Mouth Guard
This classic boil and bite mouthguard is fantastic for any level of football or contact player. Boil and Bite refers to the process of dipping the mouth guard into boiling water and then biting down into it, which molds the mouthguard to your mouth and teeth – A straightforward method to gain a nicely fitted mouthguard. This mouthguard is free from latex, phthalate, and is BPA free while being made of entirely medical grade materials. The Oral Mart Smart Mouth Guard is made of silicone and is flexible and durable enough to do a great job in offering protection. It also comes in a variety of different colors and designs, from plain colors to the U.S. flag, all the way to vampire’s teeth, allowing you to match it to your team colors or show a bit of flair out on the field. This product comes in two sizes, youth, and adult, and also comes with or without a strap allow you to connect to your helmet so you don’t lose it out on the field. It also comes with a free mouth guard case to let you transport it safely and hygienically. Whether you’re in the sport for the contact, this might be the best mouthguard for flag football to protect yourself from unexpected contact due to the ease of transportation, while also being subtle and hidden throughout the game.
4. Battle Oxygen Lip Protector Chrome 3D Predator Mouth Guard
One of the best-looking mouthguards on the market, for sure. Whenever you look across the line of scrimmage at the opposing players in an “I’m kicking your butt” kind of way, the only thing they’re going to see is some predator like fangs snarling back at them. This mouthguard isn’t just a showpiece but also has performance-enhancing and safety features that you would want from a mouthpiece. This battle mouthguard requires no boiling and is just a bite and go. It’s also one of the best football mouthguards for braces, which is a big perk for a lot of people.
The large gap in the mouth guard is the biggest on the market. Therefore, it allows ample amounts of air in and out, which helps to reduce fatigue. This air intake helps with recovery between plays and helps to get the oxygen into the body that muscles need to perform at a high level throughout the whole game, which is why it’s considered an NFL mouthguard that a lot of the elite players use to play in. This mouthguard comes with a $5,000 dental warranty to protect you from any unfortunate mishaps. This mouthguard is impressive and safeguards the whole mouth and lip area and will serve you well throughout the entire game and season.
5. Loudmouth Football Mouth Guard
Another bite and go mouthpiece that will turn heads on the field and instill fear into your opponents. The Loudmouth Mouth Guard has a rather distinctive design of predator/beast-like teeth. The mouth guard is made with silicone, and the beast-like teeth are created from 3D chrome. The design also features a breath hole to help players to be able to take in enough air while performing so that performance stays up and fatigue stays down.
The Loudmouth mouthguard is a comfortable fit that features a strap to connect your mouthpiece to your helmet if you so desire. It’s a one size fits all, and also is a fantastic fit for people that have braces. This mouth guard protects the whole teeth and mouth area and also has a $5,000 dental warranty to give you a safety net if any dental problems were to occur when using this bit of equipment. You know what they say, “look good, feel good,” and this mouthguard will for sure make you look good out on the field. The Loudmouth comes in several different styles and colors so you’ll be able to switch it up to match your style and swag.
6. Nxtrnd One Mouth Guard
This bite and go, one-size-fits-all mouth guard has comfort and versatility at the forefront of its design. The soft polymer used to make this mouthguard is not only strong and durable but also one of the lightest on the market, allowing you to forget that you’re wearing a mouthguard while still being protected. This mouthguard is user friendly for people with braces and protects the teeth, lips, and the jaw. One of the areas that stands out is the extremely comfortable bite-pads. Due to these bite-pads, it makes wearing this mouth guard for a long time easy. It also features one of the largest oxygen holes on the market, making it easier for players to breathe after a long drive or play, something that can enhance performance while keeping you safe at the same time.
The mouth guard fits both adults and youth (around ten years and up), and the box contains two helmet, attachable straps. One the same color as the mouth guard and the other a neutral color, so you’ll able to switch up your look on game days. The Nxtrnd One mouthguard comes in 10+ colors, so that’s a host of variety when it comes to matching the mouthguard to your uniform or if you just want it to stand out. The Nxtrnd One mouthguard comes with an unlimited defective warranty, making sure that you’re able to be safe while playing and keep your teeth, lips, and jaw covered throughout your playing career.
7. Under Armour Gameday Elite Mouth Guard
A boil and bite mouthguard, the Under Armour Gameday Elite allows for extreme comfort with its gel-fit liner, which molds to teeth and gums seamlessly, almost like it’s an add on to your mouth itself. This is great for those of you that have to wear your mouth guard for long periods. The more comfortable it is, the more you can focus on your game. There are five holes at the front and on both sides of the mouthguard to allow for ample breathability and oxygen intake. The great thing with this boil and bite mouthguard is that it also works great for people with braces.
Under Armour teamed up with Shock Doctor to create one of the best boil and bite mouth guards on the market, with one of the snuggest fits for most mouth types. The design is robust and will do its job of protecting your teeth, mouth, and gums and Under Armour back their protective design by offering a $10,000 dental warranty if a mishap does unfortunately happen. The Under Armour Gameday Elite Mouth Guard comes in three different colors, red, blue, and grey, giving you some options to rock on game day!
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Football Players wear Mouth Guards?
A: Some do, some don’t. In the NFL, it’s optional, and in college football, it usually comes down to the discretion of the team. BUT it’s a bright idea to wear one with the recent awareness surrounding concussions and how damaging they can be. It’s also the best way to keep oral health to a maximum while playing; needing dental repairs can be costly, and having missing teeth isn’t a great look, so wearing a mouthguard is worth the small investment to avoid this.
Why do football players wear pacifiers?
A: These are a type of mouth guards that are very popular right now among football players. These mouth guards protect the player’s teeth and also their lips as well. A cool feature about these mouthguards is that they’re a blank canvas for some cool designs too!
Conclusion
As a young person playing a sport, oftentimes you feel invincible. Frequently, people have a “that won’t happen to me” type of mentality, but unfortunately, this catches some people out. One area that repeatedly overlooked from a protection standpoint is the mouth. As in the game of football, you wear a facemask, and this can sometimes give people a false sense of protection, but damage to the teeth, mouth, lips, and jaw can still happen.
Mouthguards are one of the cheapest and most critical pieces of equipment that you can attain to keep you safe out on the field. Dental injuries, although sometimes only small, can still cost a lot to repair if you have to head to the dentist’s office. Mouthguards are great insurance, to firstly protect against any injuries occurring, while some brands even offer a dental warranty worth thousands of dollars to protect you if something was to happen. So buying and wearing one is a no brainer. All of the mouthguards reviewed are great options when it comes to keeping safe while practicing and playing in games. Each has something different that they bring to the table, so you’ll definitely be able to find one that suits your needs fully.
