In addition to the great amount of stress powerlifting puts on your primary muscles, it still puts some pressure on various parts of your body, such as your teeth.
While lifting, you might find yourself clenching and gritting hard, which can affect your dental and orofacial health. One solution to this problem is using a protective mouthguard to prevent these issues.
So what is the best mouthguard for powerlifting? The best powerlifting mouthguard is The New Age Performance 6DS Weightlifting Mouthpiece (click for today’s price on Amazon). Unlike most options, this one is specifically designed for athletes who lift weights. It molds quickly and lasts at least 3 months of continuous use, which is more than any other model on the market.
In today’s article, I’ll tackle all the reasons why opting for a mouthguard is essential for powerlifters and how to properly use them!
Table of Contents
Top 5 Powerlifting Mouthpieces Available on the Market
There are tons of mouthguards on the market that you can use efficiently while lifting weights. However, a lot of these mouthpieces are specifically designed for contact sports, or are cheaply made and don’t last more than a few weeks.
For a lifting mouthpiece, you’ll need a specific design that focuses more on preventing clenching and gritting of the teeth rather than protection from external blows.
To make the search process easier for you, I’ve compiled a list with the best 5 mouthpiece options that you can find out there, let’s check them out!
The top 5 powerlifting mouthpieces are:
- New Age Performance 6DS Weightlifting Mouthpiece – Best Overall
- Nxtrnd Rush Professional Mouthguard – Most Durable
- Under Armour ArmourFit Strapless Mouthguard – Easiest to mold
- Shock Doctor Gel Max Mouthguard – Best Budget Option
- Redline Sportswear Mouthguard – Used With Braces
1. New Age Performance 6DS Weightlifting Mouthpiece – Best Overall
The New Age Performance Mouthpiece is one of the brands that focus mainly on powerlifting products, so their 6DS Mouthguard will be specifically designed for lifting weights.
6DS stands for “6 dimensions” because this mouthguard protects your mouth from 6 jaw dimensions which are: anterior, posterior, pitch, yaw, roll, lateral.
The mouthguard comes with a case to keep it clean and secure after you’re done using it. A lot of lifters take their mouthpiece out after their heavy sets.
To use it, you’ll need to mold it using boiling water and follow the instructions that come with the mouthpiece.
Remember to take your time and follow the steps carefully, as many people might drool or ruin the piece if they rush the steps.
The mouthpiece takes 5 to 7 days of continued use to fully adapt to your mouth and will last you up to 3 months until you need a new one. While this might not seem like a long time, for mouthpieces that you use for lifting weights, this is the longest shelf life for any product on the market.
Pros
- Specifically designed for lifting weights
- Comes with a protective case
- Easy to mold and adapt to your mouth
Cons
- Premium price tag
2. Nxtrnd Rush Professional Mouthguard – Most Durable
The Nxtrnd Rush Professional Mouthguard is originally designed for contact sports like football, kickboxing, wrestling, and more.
However, the dual-density frame conforms nicely to the shape of gums and teeth after molding, which allows for better absorption of the gritting stress while lifting.
The mouthpiece features an undercarriage channel system that allows for better airflow of air while lifting.
The Nxtrnd Rush features a 3mm temperature molding EVA. This gives it excellent durability, which is why the mouthpiece is covered with a lifetime defective warranty.
Pros
- Highly durable EVA construction
- Easily molded with high breathability
- Boasts an unlimited defective warranty
Cons
- Doesn’t protect the lower jaw from gritting
3. Under Armour ArmourFit Strapless Mouthguard – Easiest to mold
Some mouthguards are difficult to mold and will require applying suction with the right amount of biting pressure and pressing firmly with fingers to create the mold.
If you’re looking for a mouthguard that’s extremely easy to mold, you should consider this one. Simply all you have to do is leave it in boiling water for 30 seconds or in the microwave for 45 seconds then bite on it to create the ideal mold for your mouth.
The Under Armour ArmourFit Mouthguard is chew-resistant and available in a wide variety of colors with 2 different size options to fit your mouth.
The mouthpiece is also made of a hydrophobic material, so it won’t deteriorate with time due to exposure to saliva.
Pros
- Good value for its price
- Very easy to mold
- Available in a wide variety of colors and sizes
Cons
- Feels a bit uncomfortable and hard on the mouth
4. Shock Doctor Gel Max Mouthguard – Best Budget Option
A mouthguard is an important accessory for lifters, but with all the gear you have to get, you might want to consider a more affordable option.
In that case, you should consider budget-friendly mouthguards like the Shock Doctor Gel Max Mouthguard.
Despite being inexpensive, it’s also surprisingly comfortable and easy to mold. It has a triple-layer design with a gel lining, which boosts the comfort and durability of the mouthguard.
Additionally, the mouthguard is easily trimmed with scissors, which means that you can adjust its size to fit your mouth no matter how small your jaw is.
Moreover, it’s available in various colors if you’re into styling your gear. The design of the mouthpiece allows for easier breathing and airflow while wearing it and it features a thread-like design for a quick release between sets.
Pros
- Ideal for buyers on a budget
- Easily trimmed from the back to fit small jaws
- Gel padding is great for comfort
Cons
- Doesn’t come in a protective case
5. Redline Sportswear Mouthguard – Used With Braces
Last but not least, the Redline Sportswear mouthguard is another affordable option that you can choose if you’re into color variation and styling your gear.
What makes this mouthguard special is that you can use them with braces, which isn’t supported by many mouthguard brands.
The mouthpiece comes with a portable case to store the mouthpiece whenever you’re not using it for convenience.
Moreover, the materials used for the mouthguard are free of PVC and latex, which causes hypersensitivity to some people.
Pros
- Features a portable case for storage
- Offers a generous refund policy
- Can be used with braces
Cons
- One size fits all design isn’t good for lifters with large jaws
Benefits of Wearing A Mouthguard When Lifting
There are many benefits that wearing a mouthguard can bring to your lifting experience. Let’s have a quick look at them.
Enhance the Muscle Activation During Lifts
According to a study on the effect of mouthguards while lifting, using these mouthguards helps in the activation of the head and neck muscles.
According to the study, participants who used the mouthguards felt “stronger and less encumbered” while using them for power clean lifts.
This theory is known as Concurrent Activation Potentiation (CAP), where you increase the produced force by contracting remote muscles to the original movers.
Based on this technique, a lot of lifters argue that using a mouthguard while lifting actually helps them improve their performance to a considerable level.
Protect from Dental and Orofacial Injuries While Lifting
While improving strength is disputed while lifting, this one isn’t! Gritting and clenching on your teeth while lifting can cause some serious dental and orofacial injuries with time.
In addition to protecting your lips and inner cheeks from bruising, mouthpieces prevent you from gritting.
Extreme gritting and grinding on your teeth while lifting can easily even break your teeth. Even if it doesn’t break, the teeth might start cracking and creating cavities.
These cavities store unswallowed bits of food, which develops into serious and painful tooth decay issues.
Prevent Post-Workout Headaches
Grinding your teeth won’t only harm your teeth, but your facial muscles and bones too. In some extreme cases, excessive grinding can also cause severe tension on the jaws, which causes some nasty headaches after workouts.
By wearing a mouthguard during your workout, it’ll help in alleviating some of the stress and pressure you put on your jaws and cervical circulation, which in return might soothe the headache or prevent them altogether.
Improve Breathing While Lifting
Some lifters pass out after lifting their maximum weight. This happens because they push their body so hard while not being able to breathe properly due to their gritting teeth.
This causes the oxygen levels that reach the brain to become lower than tolerable, so the brain shuts down to restore normal oxygen.
By using a mouthguard while lifting, you'll be able to sustain a decent airflow and breath comfortably while lifting.
Also, even if you have poor circulation and might still pass out, a mouthguard’s job is to protect your mouth from biting your tongue or breaking your teeth after all.
Lastly, with a mouthguard, you’ll be able to implement better breathing techniques while squatting, which translates into more successful sessions.
Take a look at what mouthpieces top athletes are wearing:
- What Mouthpiece Does Rich Froning Wear?
- What Mouthpiece Does Brian Shaw Wear?
Things To Consider When Buying A Weight Lifting Mouthpiece
Here are some of the things that you should consider while shopping for a lifting mouthpiece.
Adaptability and Conformation to the Mouth
Different mouthpieces will offer different ways to shape the mold into the mouth. The easiest one of them is the biting-on one.
This type requires minimal biting effort to share the mold. You simply heat them and they’re ready for reshaping.
Protection
In addition to being easy to use, the mouthpiece has to do its job properly. This means that it’s sturdy enough to absorb the pressure of biting while lifting to eliminate injuries you can cause to your teeth and jaws while lifting.
Comfort While Lifting
The mouthpiece also needs to be quite comfy. Ideally, gel-padded mouthpieces are the most comfortable ones but they’re not as durable as the PVC ones. The choice here depends on how much you clench and grit on your teeth while lifting.
For instance, if you’re a heavy grinder while lifting, you’ll need a durable PVC mouthguard that’s able to withstand the pressure you put on it, so it can last you longer.
However, if you don’t clench that hard, you might consider a gentle gel-filled one that offers more comfort while biting into it.
Ease of Breathing With It
One of the undisputed benefits of using a mouthguard while powerlifting is that it allows heavy gritters to breathe easily while they’re lifting a ton of weight.
Make sure that you’re using a mouthpiece that offers decent airflow even when you’re biting so hard on them.
How To Wear A Mouthguard While Lifting
When you first receive your mouthguard, you’ll have to mold it to your mouth before using it. While different types of mouthguards might differ, almost all of them use the same idea for molding.
These mouthguards are made of materials that get softer as you heat them up. So, to mold them, you usually bring sterilized water to a boil then add the mouthpiece carefully to the water to avoid splashing.
After about 30 to 45 seconds (depends on what’s mentioned in the package), you’ll scoop the mouthpiece out of the water using a small strainer or a fork and let the water drip.
While the mouthpiece mold is hot, you’ll have to bite on it. Keep in mind that the mold will be hot, so you have to be careful.
Also, remember to press down on the mouthguard with all your teeth including your molars. Press firmly with moderate pressure to reshape the mold but allows a gap for airflow to be easy.
When it’s ready put the mouthguard in cold water for 1 or 2 minutes to allow the mold to completely solidify.
Now that the mold is ready, all you have to do is bite on it with your teeth so that all teeth and gums are in their custom-made spot.
FAQ
Do Mouthguards Make You Stronger?
Studies looking at strength improvements with mouthguards are generally sparse; however, there is evidence to support the act of jaw clenching in harnessing strength. Therefore, using a mouthguard as a protective measure to allow safe clenching is advised for optimal oral health.
Wrap Up
Mouthguards will help you avoid a lot of injuries and may even enhance your performance by allowing for better breathing while lifting and even improving muscle activation.
If you’re looking for the best mouthguard for powerlifting, I recommend that you go for the New Age Performance 6DS Weightlifting Mouthpiece. It’s one of the few mouthguards on the market that are designed specifically for lifting weights.
Despite being a bit pricier than other options, it’s surprisingly easy to mold and comes with a protective case to store the mouthpiece conveniently when you’re not using it.
But, if you’re on a strict budget and looking for a more affordable alternative that can still get the job done, you should consider the Shock Doctor Gel Max Mouthguard.
Although it costs a fraction of what other mouthguards would do, it’s easy to trim to your jaw size and features gel padding that boosts its comfort profile!
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