How to choose a mouth guard

Kapa is a special device designed to protect the jaw from dislocations and injuries, and the oral cavity from injuries and cuts. Appearing in the eighties of the last century, this accessory is now an indispensable attribute of all martial arts and contact sports. Regardless of whether you are a professional boxer or just master martial arts, going into the ring without a mouth guard threatens to receive serious injury.

how to choose a mouth guard

Top Cap Manufacturers

Due to the narrow focus, few manufacturers have mastered the production of quality caps:

Bad Boy;
Shock Doctor;
Title Boxing;

Under these brands on the market are various caps, designed for both beginners and amateurs, and for professional athletes. Reviews about them can be found on the Internet on specialized portals dedicated to boxing and martial arts.

Types of cap

Currently popular are the following types of cap.

Ready caps

Universal and the most common type of cap, which can be purchased at the pharmacy or sports equipment stores. These models are available in several standard sizes and are intended for amateur use. Their main advantage is low price.

Virtues

Low price;

Prevalence. You can buy in almost any pharmacy or sports equipment store;

disadvantages

Mediocre quality performance;

Insufficient protection of the jaw during sparring;

Difficulty arising from breathing;

Insufficiently reliable fixation on the teeth due to universal fastening;

Thermoplastic caps

These models are also called anatomical. Represent the preparation of a special form, made of a material prone to deformation under the influence of hot water. Before use, the workpiece is lowered for 30 seconds in boiling water, then cooled and pressed tightly to the jaw on which the tray will subsequently be put on. As it solidifies, it takes on an anatomical shape and completely follows the contours of the jaw, providing maximum protection.

Virtues

Allows you to customize the jaw of any shape;

Durable and wear resistant;

Provides maximum protection against injury;

disadvantages

Expensive;

Not durable;

Individually selected for a specific person;

Dental

Dental cap

Individual cap, made in a special laboratory based on the cast of a particular athlete's teeth. Provides maximum protection from injury and full compliance with the athlete's jaw.

Virtues

Precise manufacturing, taking into account all the nuances of the jaw structure;

Durability and durability;

High quality workmanship;

disadvantages

Individual caps are as expensive as possible;

Manufactured in specialized dental clinics;

In addition to the above models, on the market you can find the so-called dental cap models used for leveling bite or teeth whitening. They are inserted for a short period of time and, due to a certain active substance, such caps perform the functions assigned to them.

Capa Selection Parameters

main selection criteria

Choosing the right cap for a boxing match implies the following key features.

Design

Sports caps can be divided into two conditional groups - caps, worn on one row of teeth (upper or lower) or caps, fixed on both jaws. The first models are not able to protect against powerful pinpoint strikes, however, they are much more convenient to use and do not cause discomfort. The latter, on the contrary, provide high protection for the teeth, but do not allow either to talk or even to breathe intensively during sparring.

Color caps

For use in professional boxing choose caps, having a white or light color. This is done so that the judge can visually determine the extent of injuries inflicted on the athlete by a rival. It is for this reason that the red caps are practically not used, with the exception of amateur matches or all sorts of friendly sparring and training.

Application specifics

Contact sports can be radically different among themselves, and depending on their specifics, many manufacturers develop their own cap models. Should choose a model that is designed for use in a particular sport, you should not think that the cap intended for American football or hockey is suitable for practicing Thai boxing.

Smell and taste

A truly high-quality mouthpiece should have no smell or taste. This is done in order to eliminate the likelihood of allergies affecting the gums and soft tissues of the oral cavity. In addition, the "tasteless" cap will cause discomfort for an athlete, thereby distracting from the main task.

Anatomical fit

When the mouthpiece corresponds to the anatomical structure of the athlete's jaw, it not only does not create a feeling of discomfort, but is not even felt as an extraneous object billowing to the teeth. Moreover, a correctly fitted mouth guard does not interfere in any way with speaking, breathing and drinking, being, in fact, a logical continuation of the athlete's teeth.