5 Best Mouthguards for Braces: Detailed Reviews and Analysis

If you play aggressive sports like soccer, hockey, baseball or boxing, it’s extremely important to wear the right protective gear. The rough nature of these sports can cause serious injury to your mouth in the heat of the moment.

If you already have braces, you got to be extra careful about your safety. During such games, there’s a high risk of your braces getting snagged, causing severe cuts and damage to teeth and gums. That’s why people with braces need to wear specialized mouthguards.

Athletic mouthguards for braces are mostly made from medical-grade silicone. The soft, lightweight material is comfortable to wear for a long time.

If you are not sure how to pick the right product, I have rounded up 5 best mouthguards for braces for you. From scouring through hundreds of customer reviews to analyzing and comparing features for hours, I have done the hard part on your behalf.

So just sit back, relax and carefully read my detailed reviews before making a decision.

Best Mouthguard for Braces Comparison Table

NameTypeFeatureSizePrice
Shock Doctor Mouth GuardBoth teethInstant fitFor all ages Check Price
SISU Mouth Guards AeroUpper teethCustom fit For Adults Check Price
OPRO Power-Fit MouthguardUpper teethPower fitFor all ages Check Price
Shock Doctor Airflow Lip GuardBoth teeth Max AirflowFor all ages Check Price
Battle Oxygen MouthguardBoth teethAirflowFor all ages Check Price

Reviews of the Best Mouthguards for Braces

Shock Doctor Double Braces Mouth Guard

The brand Shock Doctor is widely acknowledged for making lightweight and easily adjustable mouthguards for athletes who wear braces. This particular mouthguard is made from dual layers of latex-free, BPA-free and phthalates-free medical-grade silicone.

Shock Doctor Double Braces Mouth Guard

This mouthpiece is meticulously designed to sit right on top of your orthodontic brackets. It adds a strong layer of protection to both your upper and lower teeth, minimizing the risk of laceration injury.

People of all ages who are into rough sports are fit to use this mouthguard. It doesn’t need to be boiled for molding. You can just take it out of your medicine cabinet, put them on and hit the ground.

However, it will all be worth nothing if the mouthguard you are wearing doesn’t fit you right and isn’t comfortable. Fortunately, the Shock Doctor double braces mouthguard is one of the most comfortable and well-fitting mouthguards according to its ever-expanding fan base.

Due to its ergonomic ortho-channel design and quality of material, it can rapidly adjust itself to the changing position of your teeth. It also features a passage in the center to keep the airflow, allowing the wearer to breathe freely throughout the game.

The mouthguard complies with the rules of national and state high school wrestling too. It provides complete protection to the upper brace brackets which is the most important mouthguard rule during a wrestling match. It comes in a strapped version too which can be tethered to helmets.

Shock Doctor Mouth Guard at Amazon

My Impression

From lacrosse, basketball, wrestling to football, ice hockey, and skating, it is suitable for all kinds of sports.

This solid mouthguard is designed to withstand every hurdle that comes its way. These products have to pass the rigorous quality and resistance test of the National Federation of State High School Association before hitting the market. This alone should give you a sense of assurance that your teeth are in good hands.

It is a pop-and-play mouthguard. This means you don’t have to boil it or mold it manually for a snug it. The silicone warms up when you keep it in your mouth for a few hours and molds itself to your teeth accordingly.

Shock Doctor Mouthguard is robust yet lightweight, due to its medical-grade silicone composition. It changes its position according to the ever-changing position of your teeth. It comes in multiple sizes for kids, teens, and adults. So fitting should be the least of your problems.

It has been a favorite of many sports coaches for the technology it uses to ensure high airflow. If you already have braces on, the last thing you’d want is a bulky mouthguard that hinders airflow and jaw movement. Athletes like me who have a terrible gag reflex should thank Shock Doctor for finally coming up with a mouthguard like this.

The tight-fitting and softness of medical-grade silicone will help you seamlessly close your lips around the guards. It also has a hole in the middle, allowing you to breathe freely. This prevents mouth gag reflex from kicking in.

Mild Concern

If you tend to chew on your mouthguard, the durability of the material could be an issue. It is not as solid as the regular boil-and-bite mouthguards. So biting on it too hard may cause the material to chip off.

SISU Mouth Guards Aero

This mouthguard is specially designed for sportspersons who want to able to sip water, talk and breathe freely with their mouthguards on. If you have worn mouthpieces on your braces before, you are very well aware of the significance of this feature.

SISU Mouth Guards Aero

Its choice of material and unique design has made is a go-to gear for professional athletes. Its material is 50% thinner than what most other brands use. The mouthpiece has a special perforation pattern on it to enhance your ability to breathe and communicate.

The soft material fits snugly in the mouth, allowing you to easily close your lips around it. This particular version by this brand features an improved bite pad too.

Due to the pliability of the material, you can get a flawless custom fit by boiling it in hot water. The product comes with clear and straightforward molding instructions, so making a mold shouldn’t be a problem.

Now, you must be wondering how effective a 1.6 mm thin mouthguard would be in preventing trauma and impact.

SISU Mouth uses Diffusix technology to minimize the impact on your teeth during a game. It achieves the feat by including multiple crumple zones on the perforated material. This helps to absorb and distribute the shock force, ensuring high-level of protection from injuries.

SISU Mouth Guard at Amazon

My Impression

This braces mouthguard, fortunately, doesn’t have a soft palate. This means it doesn’t go back in the mouth as much as most other mouthpieces. This and the softness of the 1.6 mm material would reduce the risk of gagging.

It will also give you the luxury of talking to your teammates, drink water and most importantly, breathe freely during the game with the mouthguard on.

I was also damn impressed by the ease of molding. If you are new to custom-fit mouthguards, you will appreciate this feature a lot. If you make a mistake while boiling and don’t get the right fit, don’t worry. You can re-boil it and start molding all over again.

Despite the thinness of the material, it can absorb shock like any other sports mouthguard for braces. The perforation pattern distributes the force to a large area to minimize the impact, preventing serious oral injuries.

Mild Concern

Having said that, I would still be a little nervous about taking a hard hit on my face due to the thinness of the material. This shouldn’t be a problem for sports like hockey, lacrosse, football or basketball.

However, in a serious boxing match against a really aggressive opponent, I’d prefer using a thicker mouthguard.

OPRO Power-Fit Mouthguard

This sports-ready mouthguard is designed to protect your teeth from heavy kicks in the face. This brand is the official partner of prestigious sports events like American Youth Football, USA Rugby, USA Wrestling, New Zealand Rugby, England Hockey, and UFC to name a few. So trust issue is not a factor here, for sure.

OPRO Power-Fit Mouthguard

To prevent your braces from cutting open your gums and damaging your oral cavity, this mouthguard uses a rugged dual-layer outer shell. This shock absorbent material effectively distributes the trauma force to prevent  teeth fracture.

The molding process of this mouthpiece is incredibly short and easy, which is a bonus for newbies. When you boil the mouthguard, the tiny pockets on the material expand to create enough room for your braces.

The mouthguard only covers the upper row of your teeth. So talking, taking a sip of water and breathing shouldn’t be any problem with the mouthguard on.

If you are like me who tends to chew the mouthpiece hard, that’s also okay with this mouthpiece. The material is robust, therefore, won’t break off easily under your teeth’s pressure.

My Impression

The comfort and fit provided by the mouthguard are flawless. It is not a bulky product that disrupts your breathing or speech. You can talk freely with your teammates without taking off the guard, making this one ideal for team sports like hockey, football, and basketball.

Making the mold is amazingly simple for this mouthguard as the manufacturer has provided clear step-by-step instructions. When the molding is done right, the pockets on the pliable material will swiftly contour itself to the shape of your teeth and gums.

You don’t even have to press the material hard to get a correct shape. The entire molding process takes roughly 5-6 minutes.

Most Importantly, I can trust this mouthguard with my eyes closed. The dual-layer shell can withstand heavy abuse of an intense Thai Muay or MMA practice session.

It also prevents your teeth from getting chipped or knocked out by elbow strikes and headbanging. It also comes in plenty of cool color options to choose from.

Mild Concern

The pockets on the mouthguard can retain some traces of hot boiled water in them. If you don’t shake it out well before putting it in your mouth, it could burn your gums.

Shock Doctor Max Airflow Lip Guard / Mouth Guard

I know this is my second recommendation from this brand so far. But I couldn’t help it. Their sports mouthguards for braces are crafted to absolute perfection. The unique shape and technology keep the impact to minimum when the situation gets heated.

Shock Doctor Max Airflow Lip Guard Mouth Guard

The Max Airflow Mouthguard-cum-lip guard delivers 10% better airflow than most conventional mouthguards. This is especially beneficial for kids and adults who have a severe gagging problem.

The 2-piece mouthguard protects both the upper and lower row of your teeth. It will keep you from grinding or clenching your teeth in a high-pressure situation. You can also use it as a night mouthguard if you are battling bruxism. The material is a little on the thicker side, which is a great plus point as it won’t chip off when you bite hard.

My Impression

The new small version of this mouthguard is best suited for kids and young adults who have difficulty in wearing a mouthguard due to gag reflex. It can be trimmed easily to ensure a snug and comfortable fit for small mouths and head.

The adult version is slightly bigger than the standard size which would be an advantage for people with unusually big heads like me. The mouthguard comes with a tether for helmet as well.

Shock Doctor’s material is a little thicker and bulkier compared to other braces mouthguard on my list. I would count it as an advantage as it ensures unparalleled protection from Taekwondo kicks and punches.

The mouthguard extends to the lips as well for a more well-rounded protection. The material has multiple holes on it for undisrupted breathing. It doesn’t require hot water boiling for molding. Just take it out of the package, put in on and hit the ground.

The warmth of your mouth would make the mouthpiece automatically contour itself to your teeth’s shape. The malleable material can switch positions according to changing positions of your teeth. This would make the mouthguard stay put and comfortable during long scrimmage.

Mild Concern

Due to the thickness of the material, it can be a bit difficult to completely close your lips around it.

Battle Oxygen Predator Football Mouthguard

Battle Oxygen is designed to provide easy custom fitting to various teeth alignment and mouth shapes. Its 2-piece design will cover the brackets of both upper and lower teeth as well as your lips for well-rounded protection.

Battle Oxygen Predator Football Mouthguard

It takes up minimal space on the oral cavity to provide optimal comfort. I noticed that this one is shaped quite differently from standard mouthguards I have seen so far. This unique shape prevents the mouthpiece from hindering your tongue position. This means it won’t muffle your voice when you are talking to your teammates or coach.

It also features the biggest hole I have ever seen in any mouthpiece so far. It allows for easy breathing which helps you stay pumped and focused throughout the game.

The athletic mouthguard uses a soft and pliable material that doesn’t require boiling. It does not feel bulky at all and fits firmly around your braces to ensure excellent retention.

It is a one-size-fits-all mouthpiece. If needed, you can easily trim the material from the back scissors to adjust the size for 6-8 year old kids as well. It also comes with a tether for helmets.

My Impression

This mouthguard uses Scuba breathing technology to deliver high airflow for quick muscle recovery. The more oxygen you let in, the more stamina you’ll retain which is vital for high-voltage sports events.

This is one of the most versatile and flexible mouthguards on this list. It doesn’t require any boiling. Just bite it down and the heat of your mouth will shape the material according to your teeth alignment.

Unlike a gel-formula based mouthguard which crumbles under teeth’s pressure, this thick material stays undamaged when you grind it hard.

I loved the fact that it is a one-size-fits-all mouthguard. This means yoou don’t have to scratch your head figuring out the ideal size for you. If you’re buying it for your young kid who has a high gag reflex, just trim some material at the back to fix this issue.

Mild Concern

The quality of the tether for helmet could be improved. It often comes loose, therefore, has to be adjusted frequently.

Finding the Best Mouthguard for Orthodontic Braces: A Comprehensive Buyer’s Guide

Reading reviews alone isn’t going to make it any easier to pick the right product. A brace mouthguard can be hard to find if you don’t know what to look for exactly. So allow me throw light upon the key aspects of these specialized mouthguards:

  • Fitting

Custom-fit mouthguards are your safest bet if you are wearing braces or crowns. It will easily adjust itself to the shape of your teeth, providing a firm fit. You can chew on it without worrying about damaging the material or chipping your teeth.

However, there are lots of great one-size-fits-all versions too. These are suitable for people who have average-size mouths and don’t like to go through the trouble of boiling the mouthguard.

  • The Comfort Factor

Most people, especially kids, hate wearing mouth protection due to sensitive gag reflex. Mouthpieces that use solid palates help you avoid gagging.

Your mouthguard should allow you to trim the fleshy part towards the back with a regular pair of scissors to further minimize the risk of gagging.

For optimal comfort, choose a pliable material that remains firmly stuck to your upper and bottom teeth. It should be soft enough to let you easily open and close your lips.

  • Freedom of Movement

If you are undergoing orthodontic treatment, it’s crucial to make sure that your mouthguard has enough room for your braces. It will maintain the correct alignment of your braces, letting them move freely to avoid any discomfort.

The Bottom Line

I hope I have answered everything you needed to know before choosing a mouthguard for orthodontic braces. Personally, I had to face a lot of difficulty in finding out brace mouthguards that ensure high protection, great retention and optimal comfort.

Nonetheless, after spending hours researching the web, I finally narrowed down to 5 best athletic mouthguards for braces that stay true to their promises. These mouthguards are frequently recommended by dentists and used by top athletes around the globe.

I did my bit by taking care of the research part. Now it’s time for you to read the reviews carefully, follow your intuition and decide what’s best for you.

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