Parents who are going to give their children “for a fight”, or people who intend to go in for sports on their own, do not forget about the much-needed device, like a mouth guard for boxing. Despite a very short history (the cap was first used in battle in 1980), it is so popular that without this pad on the ring, athletes are not allowed out.
What is the protective plate for?
The general misconception: people believe that the mouthguard for boxing is needed exclusively so as not to knock out teeth. Undoubtedly, this is one of the tasks she performs, but by no means the only one. In addition to it, the overlay implements a number of functions.
- Prevention of the formation of lacerations in soft tissues. Oddly enough, with the inserted mouth guard, the lips suffer much less, even with a direct blow.
- Reducing the likelihood of a concussion - a good mouthguard for boxing is well absorbed.
- Significantly reduced the possibility of damage and even displacement of the cervical vertebrae.
- Almost eliminated hemorrhages in the brain.
- Perforation of the trachea with splinters of teeth becomes impossible (if they are nevertheless broken).
In addition to all this, a boxing cap removes constant tension from several muscle groups at once and helps to adopt a more balanced fighting stance.
Types of Cap
Protective pads are divided into several groups at once according to several criteria. First of all, at the place of attachment. They are one-sided, fixed on the upper jaw, and two-sided, protecting both. More reliable it seems to be the second type, but it is more bulky and significantly prevents breathing, for which a rather small hole is provided. So from this point of view, a single-jaw burl for boxing is preferable.
The next parameter is the method of obtaining the grooves in which the dentition is “hidden”. Here, the sports industry offers 2 options:
- Standard burls: plates are formed during production; upon purchase immediately ready for use.
- Thermoplastic - a kind of blank, which, under the influence of temperature, is able to take an individual jaw shape.
The first type is suitable only for people with perfect teeth and a standard jaw structure. Professional boxers like thermoplastic burl for boxing, even if it requires preliminary training.
Mouthguard for boxing: how to choose
In addition to certainty with the type of lining, you must take into account a number of requirements that apply to the device.
- Capa for boxing (photo above) should not be red. Apparently, this is necessary so that the referee or the doctor could determine the severity of the damage inflicted on the boxer in time. Manufacturers of sports equipment avoid producing colorful caps, but for spectacular, staged fights, such are also being done.
- Capa should not have any smell or taste. They irritate and distract, and besides they can cause allergies over time.
- A “debugged” mouthpiece for boxing should not only cause painful sensations, but even be felt by a foreign object in the mouth. It should not interfere with speech, let alone breathing.
- The pad is bought in accordance with the sport. For example, Under Armor is suitable mainly for hockey players, a boxer will only suffer with it, and it will not fulfill its task. Do not forget that there are male mouthguards, and there are female ones.
Do not save on health and buy products of dubious brands. Generations of boxers tested mouthguards manufactured by Everlast, Venum, Bad boy, Tapout, Title Boxing, Shock Doctor. But the linings from the well-known company Adidas did not live up to expectations, so brand name is not necessary.
"Cooking" protective pads
If you have chosen a thermoplastic mouthguard for boxing, the instructions will explain in detail how to fit it under your teeth. But, in principle, they are all processed in the same way.
- A sufficient amount of water boils so that the plate fits freely there.
- Capa is placed in boiling water for a maximum of half a minute.
- When the removed pad cools down so as not to leave burns, but has not yet cooled completely, it is inserted into the place of the future “work” and tightly clamped. The outer edge rolls over the gums with the convenience of whoever will wear the mouth guard.
There is only 20 seconds for everything about everything. If the manipulations were done adroitly, and the burl for boxing turned out to be of high quality, then when the teeth are unclenched it will not fall down.