Why use a mouth guard?

You've probably never thought about wearing a mouthguard during a weightlifting session. Traditionally, this type of accessory is associated with boxing, mixed martial arts, or other combat sports fighters. It is also recommended for people who suffer from bruxism (the process of grinding their teeth) who sleep. But weightlifters, CrossFit and indoor bodybuilders should take into account the benefits of wearing a mouthguard during their gym sessions. The advantages are many, as we will detail them for you…

Why use a mouth guard?

Protect your teeth

The first obvious reason you should invest in this supplement is…to protect your teeth, QED. In fact, many athletes tend to clench their teeth when lifting weights. This is a reaction that most of the time has little effect, but can cause serious damage to the oral health of some practitioners.

Ultimately, people who grind their teeth too hard are at greater risk of weakening the enamel. As the sessions progress, the teeth become cracked and can even end up breaking! To avoid this painful and expensive inconvenience, the solution is to simply wear a mouthguard before a weight training session.

Avoid accidents

Even if you do not put particular pressure on your teeth during your sporting activity, it is still recommended to wear a mouthguard. Moreover, theAmerican Dental Association It recommends participants of almost all sports to wear this accessory.

The risk of accidents is significant when engaging in physical activity, especially intensely. Imagine the damage a dumbbell could do if it hit your jaw… Plus, weightlifters who put too much pressure on their muscles can sometimes pass out! The disadvantage is that the body is deprived of the oxygen used by the muscle fibers. In the event of a sudden fall, a mouthguard can be a lifesaver.

Reducing pain

This tendency to grind your teeth during training has other consequences. It is known that an overly tense jaw can cause headaches and muscle pain.

The bite in the mouthguard helps distribute forces better, thus protecting the jaw and neck muscles.

Develop your strength

There's a lot of talk here about the harmful consequences of a clenched jaw during a weight training session. But the pressure reflex on your teeth doesn't come out of nowhere: it has a completely logical reason! according to T nationA Marquette University study found that simply squeezing the jaws can increase a person's strength by up to 10 percent.

Another study from 2015⁽¹⁾ It revealed that athletes who used a mouthguard felt more powerful while lifting dumbbells.

This reflex action is effective in increasing determination and focus when effort becomes difficult. After all, don't we use the phrase “grit your teeth” to mean “resist suffering”?

Breathe better

The mouthguard will encourage you to properly align your lower and upper jaws as well as your tongue. This small, seemingly harmless gesture can nonetheless improve your ability to breathe. This will help you allow the air to circulate freely to deeply oxygenate your entire body.

cheerful

To finish listing the qualities of the mouth guard, let us add that this accessory is also suitable for some athletes from a psychological point of view. Some people experience very strong feelings when engaged in physical activity, such as the desire to outdo themselves, which can lead to anger. Others feel nervous about lifting increasingly heavy weights or working with long sets. Biting into a mouthguard is a form of outlet.

Are you convinced of the benefit of using a mouthguard? You can easily find these accessories on the Internet, especially on the website New era performance. Don't make the mistake of purchasing a mouthguard intended for people who suffer from bruxism.

Those intended for athletes are thicker to reduce the force of impact. In addition, it extends to the gums to protect the jaw from the risk of fracture. If necessary, do not hesitate to ask your dentist to fit you with a custom-made mouthguard to fit the shape of your jaw and the location of your teeth.

Which mouth guard to buy?

The brand is the undisputed reference in mouthguards for power sports New era performancewhich means mouth guards, which is what SBD stands for belt reinforcement.

Several colors and two models are available (5DS and 6DS). A little more expensive, and it's the 6DS model that I highly recommend.

The only downside is that the store is only available in English, but it delivers to France. Click on the image below to discover their products: