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WABUKAN Arsenal · Protection and armour · Europe

Mouthguard

A guard that covers the teeth and gums; it also stops the jaws closing fully, which reduces the risk of jaw-joint injury and concussion. It began in boxing.

Mouthguard
Mouthguard WABUKAN illustration

Also known as

gumshield; mouthpiece; gum guard

Origin and history

Most evidence places the origin of the mouthguard in boxing. Early boxers clenched cotton, tape, sponge or small pieces of wood between their teeth. In 1892 the British dentist Woolf Krause began making mouthpieces for boxers from strips of gutta-percha, a natural rubber resin. His son Phillip Krause is often credited with the first reusable mouthpiece, seen in a 1921 title fight worn by Ted "Kid" Lewis.

Martial arts that use it

Boxing Kickboxing MMA

Construction

Three main types: stock (ready-made, almost no adjustment), "boil and bite" (a thermoplastic, usually EVA, softened in hot water and shaped in the mouth) and custom-made by a dentist from an impression of the teeth, which fits best.

Basic techniques

Training

Protective equipment is part of training itself: students learn to put it on correctly, check straps and padding, and move and breathe while wearing it before any contact work.

Safety

Protection only works if it fits: replace cracked, torn or compressed padding, check helmets and grilles regularly and let damp gear dry fully to avoid skin infections.

Legality (general information)

This is training or traditional equipment, not a weapon, and is generally free to buy and own. Clubs and federations may still set rules on approved models and condition. General information, not legal advice.

Did you know?

In that 1921 fight, the opposing manager argued that the mouthpiece was an illegal advantage, and won the argument.

More weapons

Gambeson Fencing mask Hogu (chest protector) Bogu Boxing gloves

Sources

Original WABUKAN text, written from these cross-checked sources (facts, not sentences).

  1. Wikipedia — Mouthguard