Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a popular form of martial arts. As with any combat sport, injuries are a common aspect of BJJ.
The threat of a major injury is looming right around the corner for BJJ professionals.
Therefore, they must maintain the highest protection while grappling on the mats.
Whether training or competition, a fighting mouthguard is a must-have item for BJJ athletes. Originally, these protective mouthpieces were created to protect the boxers.
Made out of the cotton, sponge, and tape, a primitive mouthguard served the necessity to protect the jaws. Decades later, mouthguards have become a key component of BJJ gear.
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Our Top 8 Best BJJ Mouthguards for 2022
You might find it difficult to buy the best BJJ mouthguard. With the wide range of gum shields available in the market, the decision requires some brainstorming.
At Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World, we have performed lengthy and thorough research to compile a list of the best BJJ mouthguards in 2022. Our extensive research aims to provide the readers with the most accurate mouthguard reviews.
Read ahead to know our top choices and make an informed decision!
1. OPRO Power-Fit Mouthguard
From New Zealand Rugby to US Wrestling, OPRO Power-Fit Mouthguard has some of the biggest combat sports teams as its official clientele. The OPRO Power-Fit Mouthguard is one of the top BJJ mouthguards for one but many reasons.
- It offers a 3-layer resistance against stress impact, protecting you from virtually anything.
- It comes with some unique features to give you the best fit. These include anatomical fins and a power cage to fit well inside your mouth.
- It is available in multiple sizes for both kids and adults.
- It offers an 18-month dental warranty worth $20,000.
Pros
- Multi-sport functionality
- An array of design options
- A high degree of protection
Cons
- Not a budget-friendly product
Size Chart
2. Impact Custom Mouthguard
As the name indicates, these top BJJ mouthguards by impact offer impeccable custom fitting for BJJ professionals. It comes with a moulding kit to create the best stencil for your mouth.
- With an absorbance range of 6-7mm, it offers resistance against a heavy impact.
- It is completely free of BPA, which poses a health risk.
- It comes with a quality moulding kit with frames and material to make a personal impression.
- It offers the best quality apart from a dental-grade mouthguard.
Pros
- 40+ designs to choose from
- Specifically created for combat sports
- Ensures maximum comfort
Cons
- Not good for braces
Size Chart
3. Sisu 1.6 Aero Guard
Sisu 1.6 Aero Guard is just the product for you if you are looking for a slim and light mouthguard. It is as thin as 1.6mm and ensures better breathability than other mouthguards.
- It is made with Diffusix Technology to dispense a blow's impact evenly across the mouth.
- It offers ample breathability and maximum comfort while drinking or talking.
- It does not feel overbearing because of its slim build.
- It gives you a wider bite pad. You can also resize it as per your choice.
Pros
- Available in 3 different sizes
- 16 unique design and color choices
- Smaller and slimmer than traditional mouthguards
Cons
- Not a lot of size options
Size Chart
4. Venum Challenger Mouthguard
Venum is among the best brands in the BJJ market. Its Challenger mouthguard has a soft gel interior and a smooth design. This is also one of the affordable mouthguards.
- It maximizes comfort and efficiency with its Nexfit Gel frame. This fits neatly inside your mouth and feels gentle on the teeth and gums.
- Its high shock management capacity provides greater protection for BJJ athletes.
- It fashions the latest technology to facilitate breathing during combat.
- It is best suited for close-contact combat sports like BJJ and MMA.
Pros
- Comes with a proper case for storage
- Superior quality rubber frame
- Amazing custom fit and comfort
Cons
- Does not provide odor-resistance
Size Chart
5. Shock Doctor Gel Max
Shock Doctor has a wide range of fighting mouthguards under its name. the Gel Max mouthguard is another of its quality products that offer gentle touch and strong protection.
- It has an exoskeleton shock frame that safeguards your mouth from the hardest impacts.
- Several breathing channels are integrated into its design to offer ample breathability during combat.
- It is available in a flavoured variant as well. Some of the flavours are bubblegum and cherry vanilla.
- It comes with a dental warranty worth $10000
Pros
- Effectively disperses the shock impact
- Heavy-duty frame for utmost protection
- Available in 24 different designs
Cons
- Might get loose over the years
Size Chart
6. Shock Doctor Pro
The Pro Mouthguard is one of Shock Doctor’s most affordable products. It offers both quality and comfort at a very reasonable price.
- It comes in a boil-and-bite form. You have to boil it and fit it into your mouth.
- It comes with a front bumper to absorb heavy impacts.
- It is ideal for combat sports, including BJJ, boxing, MMA, and similar.
- It offers long durability and a dental warranty worth $10000.
Pros
- Provides a dedicated size range for children
- Compatible with braces
- Available in multiple design options
Cons
- Sizing can be an issue
Size Chart
7. Loudmouth Sport Mouthguard
This mouthguard has a 3D vampire design that can easily intimidate the opponent. Besides, it guarantees both durability and comfort for the users.
- It is designed from a proprietary formula to give you the best fitting.
- It provides unmatched comfort with the convenient boil-and-bite moulding process.
- It boosts your performance through its efficient design and fit to facilitate breathing.
- It comes with superior quality construction. Many athletes approve of the Loudmouth Sports Mouthguard.
Pros
- Cool yet intimidating vampire design
- Perfect and solid fit
- Dental guarantee worth $5000
Cons
- Does not offer impact distribution
Size Chart
8. Shock Doctor Max Airflow
Shock Doctor advertises Max Airflow as the “Oxygen King.” This uniquely designed mouthguard offers 10% better airflow than other products. Moreover, it is the best BJJ mouthguard for athletes with braces.
- It offers optimum comfort with its integral bite pads.
- You can strap it or leave it strapless owing to its quick-release tether.
- It is free of toxic materials like BPA, latex, phthalate, etc.
- It comes with a dental warranty of $50,000
Pros
- Proper channel to maximize breathing
- Compatible with braces on teeth
- Flexible polymers ensure a comfortable fitting
Cons
- Does not offer many design options
Size Chart
Why should you wear a mouthguard? Top Benefits of Wearing a Jiu-Jitsu Mouthguard
Since Jiu-Jitsu involves a lot of physical activity, every part of your body is vulnerable. However, mouth injuries are particularly painful since they hamper your food intake.
Besides, nobody wants to fashion some broken or chipped teeth for the rest of their lives. Therefore, the purpose of the best BJJ gum shield is to safeguard your mouth from any unnecessary damage.
However, a mouthguard serves one but many functions.
Teeth Protection: First, a mouthguard protects your teeth from chipping and breaking. It is also helpful in preventing damage to the roots and bones.
Protecting Soft Tissues: Apart from the teeth, your mouth comprises many soft tissues like the tongue, the gums, etc. These can be injured more easily and hence, require protection.
Jaw Protection: Jaw fractures are quite common in BJJ. To keep your jaw intact and avoid all the pain, get the best BJJ mouthguard 2021.
Proper Breathing: A mouthguard enables proper nasal breathing since your mouth is blocked.
Pushing It: With the best protection for your mouth, a mouthguard empowers you to push your limits. It gives you a competitive edge over the opponent in terms of attack.
A Single vs. Double-Sided Mouthguard – Which is better?
There are two variations of mouthguards available in the market, viz. single-sided and double-sided. Each of these has its own set of pros and cons. At the end of the day, the choice comes down to your personal preference for a good mouthguard.
A single-sided mouthguard does not hamper your breathing. You can easily breathe through your mouth wearing this.
On the contrary, a double-sided mouthguard can leave you breathless in an intense training or combat session. It only has some small holes for the passage of air.
Moreover, a single-sided mouthguard allows you to drink or talk without discomfort. On the other hand, you will need to take off your double-sided mouthguard to do the same.
However, a double-sided mouthguard offers better protection than its counterpart. It is firm and stronger than a single-sided mouthguard. Ultimately, you need to decide which features you want more in your gum shield.
There are three variations of the best Jiu-Jitsu mouthguard:
Stock Mouthguard: These are the most commonly used mouthpieces. They are cost-friendly and ready-to-use guards.
Boil and Bite Mouthguard: Made from thermoplastic, these mouthpieces get soft in hot water. You can then place it in your mouth and shape it as per your teeth through gentle pressure.
Custom-Fitted Mouthguard: As the name suggests, this mouthguard is personalized as per your mouth. You have to give an impression of your mouth to make a mouthpiece.
Custom Fit Mouthguard vs. Boil-and-Bite Mouthguards – Which should you choose?
While picking the best BJJ mouthguard, you will find two options, a custom-fit mouthguard, and a boil-and-bite mouthguard.
Custom Fit: This mouthguard offers the best possible fit for your mouth. It is made as per the measurements of your mouth. In a custom-fit mouthguard kit, you will find materials to make a stencil of your face. Then, send it to the doctor who will mould it as per the impression.
Boil-and-Bite: This product comes in a standard shape in contrast with a custom-fit mouthguard. You can soften it in hot water first. Then put it into your mouth and shape it accordingly through mild pressure from your fingers and tongue. These are more affordable than the first.
What to look for in a Jiu-Jitsu mouthguard? Best features a BJJ mouthguard needs to have!
The choice of a mouthguard is important for all BJJ athletes. After all, it will protect your teeth, gums, tongue, and jaw from injuries. At the same time, you need the best level of comfort to perform well in a competition.
Level of Protection: Check for the product's level of protection. For this, you have to check its dimensions, thickness, sides, and similar criteria to assess its degree of protection.
Fit: You cannot go on the mats with a loosely fitted mouthguard. It will simply hamper your performance. A mouthguard fitting is important to keep it in place during grappling. Both custom-made and boil-and-bite mouthguards offer good fitting.
Comfort: A mouthguard completely blocks the movement of your mouth. However, it should not obstruct your ability to drink, breathe, swallow, and more. This is an index of its comfort.
Thickness: You might believe the thicker the mouthpiece, the better protection it offers. However, that is not quite true. A thin mouthguard made of a stronger material can be better than a thick one made from a weaker material.
Tasteless and Odor-Resistant: You should not get tastes of any kind when you wear a BJJ mouthguard. Besides, it should also be able to resist mouth odour.
Easy to Clean: A mouthguard is bound to get dirty. However, cleaning it should not come off as a task.
Design and Style: You can get your fighting mouthguard in customized colors and prints. Many brands offer different styles for a BJJ gum shield.
Material: Lastly, a mouthguard’s material is important to gauge strength. It should not tear down or deform easily.
How to mould a mouthguard?
This is a question most athletes ask when they first use a mouthguard. Moulding a mouthguard is not a difficult process. Read the following steps to learn an easy answer on how to mould a mouthguard.
Fill a container with some water and boil it. Once it is boiling, remove it from the heat source and let it cool off for 30 seconds.
Then, put the mouthguard rubber inside. Leave it for another 90 seconds till it is soft
Take the frame out of this water with tongs. Put it on ice for a few seconds, so it does not feel too hot in your mouth.
Then quickly put it in your mouth. Stand in front of a mirror to align the mouthguard properly. Gently run your fingers and tongue to make it fit your teeth.
Remove the mouthguard and put it in cold water for 30 seconds. This will help in hardening the rubber.
With this, you are set to use your customized boil-and-bite gum shield. If there is any excess gel, you can simply cut it off with a pair of scissors.
How to take care of your Best BJJ Mouthguard?
Taking care of a fighting mouthguard is important to maintain hygiene. If you put it in your mouth, it simply cannot have any dirt or bacteria.
A mouthguard does not require any high maintenance. You simply need to wash it after every use. You can use a hydrogen peroxide solution or simply some soap and water for cleaning. After that, dry it with a towel or dryer. You must ensure that the mouthguard is dry when not in use.
Final Thoughts
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is one of the toughest forms of martial arts. BJJ athletes face a high risk of injuries in any part of their body. Mouth injuries, however, are particularly painful than others.
Every part of your mouth, from the teeth and jaws to the gums and tongue, needs protection during combat.
With this comprehensive guide, you can make an informed decision while buying a mouthguard. We have listed our top picks for eight high-quality mouthguards in the market.
Besides, you also learned how to mould a mouthguard.
Before finalizing your purchase, you must always remember to check the reviews on Amazon for the concerned product.
At BJJ World, we offer the most detailed guides on:
The best BJJ GIS for women, men, and kids
The best BJJ rash guards for women, men, and kids
Probably you'll need one of them next to your existing collection.
Click the link above and check out the best Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu products in the market!
Spending a few tens dollars on a top BJJ mouthguard is better than a doctor’s bill worth thousands of dollars.
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