Alright, buckle up, cause I’m gonna spill the beans on my MMA mouthguard experiment!
So, it all started when I caught an elbow during sparring. Not fun. My teeth were fine, thankfully, but my jaw ached for days. That’s when I thought, “Okay, time to get serious about protection.” Forget the tough guy act; I like my teeth where they are.
First, I hit up the local sports store. They had a bunch of those boil-and-bite mouthguards. You know, the ones you dunk in hot water and try to mold to your teeth? Figured I’d give it a shot. Grabbed the cheapest one – big mistake.
The Boiling Begins (and Ends in Disaster)
Followed the instructions, boiled the thing, and tried to jam it in my mouth. Burned my gums, didn’t mold right, and felt like I had a horse bit in my mouth. Plus, I couldn’t breathe properly. I looked like I was chewing on a giant piece of rubber. Epic fail. Threw that one straight in the trash.
Okay, round two. Did some research online. Realized I needed something better. I decided to spend a little more and get a slightly better boil-and-bite one from a different brand. This one claimed to have some fancy molding tech. Sounded promising.
Boil-and-Bite Redemption? Sort Of…
This one was a bit better. The molding process was still a pain, but I managed to get a somewhat decent fit. It still felt bulky, and I still mumbled when I talked, but at least I could breathe (mostly). I used it for a few sparring sessions. It did the job, I guess, but it kept shifting around, and I was constantly clenching my jaw to keep it in place. Annoying.
The Custom Route: Worth the Hype?
After a few weeks of that nonsense, I decided to go all in and get a custom-fitted mouthguard from a dentist. Yeah, it cost a pretty penny, but I figured my teeth were worth it. They took impressions of my teeth and sent them off to a lab. A few weeks later, I had my very own custom mouthguard.
WOW. The difference was night and day. It fit perfectly, like a glove for my teeth. No more clenching, no more shifting, just pure, comfortable protection. I could breathe easily, talk (relatively) clearly, and focus on my training without worrying about my teeth getting knocked out. It was snug, it was secure. This is what I was looking for!
- Snug Fit: This thing doesn’t move unless I want it to.
- Thickness: It’s got enough thickness to absorb impact, but not so much that it feels like I’m wearing a brick in my mouth.
- Material: Feels really durable, like it can actually take a beating.
The Verdict
Look, the cheap boil-and-bite mouthguards are okay in a pinch, but they’re not ideal. If you’re serious about MMA or any contact sport, invest in a good quality mouthguard. Seriously, you won’t regret it. Save yourself the hassle and just get a custom one if you can afford it. Your teeth (and your brain) will thank you.
So, that’s my mouthguard journey. Hope it helps someone out there. Now, back to the gym. Gotta put this thing to the test!
