Do not spar without a mouthguard. Ever. Not one round. Not “just light sparring.” Not “we’re just working.” A mouthguard is the single most important piece of protective equipment you own and the one piece that too many people cheap out on or forget entirely.
One clean shot without a mouthguard can crack a tooth, shatter a crown, slice your lip open on your own teeth, fracture your jaw, or rattle your brain harder than it needed to be rattled. A $20 mouthguard prevents thousands of dollars in dental work. A $200 custom one might save your career. There is no version of this where skipping it makes sense.
This is the complete breakdown — from the cheapest option to the best, what each type does, and which one is right for you.
Tier 1: Boil and Bite — The Entry Level
What they are: The mouthguard you buy at any sporting goods store for $5-25. You drop it in boiling water to soften the material, then bite down to create a rough impression of your teeth.
Brands: Everlast, Shock Doctor, Venum, Under Armour, and dozens of others. Shock Doctor is the most popular in this category and has been for years.
The good: Cheap, available everywhere, and better than nothing. You can buy one today and spar tonight. For someone who’s just starting out and doesn’t know if they’ll stick with sparring, a boil and bite is a perfectly reasonable first mouthguard.
The bad: The fit is mediocre at best. They tend to be bulky, which makes breathing harder and talking almost impossible. They can feel loose, which means you’re clenching your jaw to keep it in place — the opposite of what a mouthguard should do. The material is thinner and less protective than higher-tier options. And the fit degrades over time as the material compresses.
Who it’s for: Beginners who need something now. People trying sparring for the first time and aren’t sure they’ll continue. Anyone who needs a backup mouthguard in their bag.
Budget: $5-25
Tier 2: Mold-at-Home Custom Fit
What they are: A step up from boil and bite. These companies send you an impression kit — you bite into a mold at home and mail it back. They create a semi-custom mouthguard from your dental impression and ship it to you. The fit is significantly better than a boil and bite because it’s made from your actual teeth impression rather than a generic shape you’re trying to bite into.
Brands: SISU, Nxtrnd, GuardLab, and several others offer mail-order mold kits. Some brands like SISU use a heat-and-fit technology that’s more advanced than traditional boil and bite but still done at home.
The good: Much better fit than a standard boil and bite. Easier to breathe and talk. More comfortable, which means you’re less distracted during sparring. SISU in particular makes an ultra-thin guard that’s surprisingly protective for how slim it is — popular with people who hate the bulky feel of traditional mouthguards.
The bad: Still not as precise as a dentist-made guard. The home impression process has room for error — if your mold isn’t perfect, the guard won’t be perfect. Turnaround time is usually 1-2 weeks for the mail-order versions.
Who it’s for: Regular sparrers who want a real upgrade from boil and bite without the cost of a dentist visit. Anyone who trains consistently and wants comfort and protection without spending $300+.
Budget: $30-100
Tier 3: Online Custom Mouthguards
What they are: Professional-grade custom mouthguards made from a dental impression — but ordered online instead of through a dentist. These companies send you a professional impression kit, you mail back the mold, and they fabricate a lab-quality mouthguard to your exact specifications. Same process a dentist uses, without the office visit and the markup.
Brands: Impact Custom Mouthguards, ProDental, OPRO Custom, and Damage Control are some of the most established names in this space. Impact Custom in particular has a strong reputation in the boxing and MMA community.
The good: True custom fit from your exact dental impression. Lab-fabricated with professional-grade materials. Multiple thickness options — you can get thicker protection for heavy sparring or thinner profiles for training. Many companies offer customization — colors, designs, team logos. The fit is precise enough that the guard stays in place without clenching.
The bad: Turnaround time is typically 2-4 weeks. More expensive than the lower tiers. If your impression isn’t done correctly, the guard won’t fit right and you may need to redo it.
Who it’s for: Serious sparrers and amateur competitors. Anyone who spars regularly and wants professional protection without paying dentist prices. Fighters preparing for a bout.
Budget: $75-200
Tier 4: Dentist-Made Custom Mouthguards
What they are: The gold standard. Your dentist takes a precise impression or digital scan of your teeth and sends it to a dental lab that fabricates a mouthguard engineered specifically for your mouth. The fit is perfect. The protection is maximum. These are what professional fighters wear on fight night.
What the process looks like: You visit your dentist, they take an impression (either physical mold or digital scan), and the lab fabricates the guard. Some dentists specialize in sports guards and can adjust thickness, coverage area, and material density based on your sport and level of contact. Turnaround is typically 1-2 weeks.
The good: Nothing fits better. Nothing protects better. A dentist-made guard distributes impact force evenly across your teeth and jaw, provides maximum shock absorption, and stays in place without any effort. You can breathe normally, talk normally, and drink water without removing it. The difference between a dentist-made guard and a boil and bite is like the difference between a custom suit and something off the rack at a department store.
The bad: Cost. Dentist-made sports mouthguards typically run $300-600 depending on your location and the dentist. Some dental insurance plans cover a portion if it’s classified as a sports appliance. The other downside is time — you need an appointment, the lab needs fabrication time, and if adjustments are needed you’re going back for another visit.
Who it’s for: Professional and serious amateur fighters. Anyone with significant dental work — crowns, bridges, implants, veneers — where the cost of damage far exceeds the cost of the guard. Anyone who spars regularly at high intensity. Anyone who’s had dental injuries from sparring and isn’t going through it again.
Budget: $300-600
Upper vs Lower Mouthguards
Most people in boxing wear an upper mouthguard only. That’s standard. The upper teeth are more exposed and take the majority of impact from straight punches and hooks.
Some fighters — particularly those with dental work on their lower teeth or those who’ve experienced lower jaw injuries — wear a double mouthguard or a separate lower guard. Your dentist can advise on this if you have specific concerns.
For most people, a quality upper guard is all you need.
Taking Care of Your Mouthguard
A mouthguard that lives at the bottom of your gym bag in a puddle of sweat is a bacteria factory. Basic maintenance keeps it clean and extends its life.
Rinse it after every use. Cold water, not hot. Hot water can warp the material.
Brush it. Use a toothbrush and toothpaste or mild soap. Clean it the same way you clean your teeth.
Store it in a ventilated case. Every mouthguard should come with one. If it didn’t, buy a $3 case. Airflow prevents bacterial growth.
Replace it regularly. Boil and bites should be replaced every few months or whenever the fit loosens. Custom guards last longer — typically 1-2 years depending on how often you spar and how hard you clench.
Don’t chew on it. A mouthguard is not gum. Chewing compresses the material and ruins the fit.
The Bottom Line
| Tier | Type | Fit | Protection | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boil and Bite | Basic | Adequate | $5-25 |
| 2 | Mold-at-Home | Good | Good | $30-100 |
| 3 | Online Custom | Very Good | Very Good | $75-200 |
| 4 | Dentist-Made | Perfect | Maximum | $300-600 |
If you’re just starting out and want to try sparring, grab a Shock Doctor boil and bite for $15 and you’re covered. If you know you’re going to spar regularly, skip to Tier 2 or 3 — the comfort difference alone is worth the investment. If you’re competing or you have expensive dental work to protect, go to your dentist. The $400 you spend on a custom guard is a fraction of what a single cracked crown costs to repair.
But whatever tier you choose — wear one. Every single time you spar. No exceptions.
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