Mouthguards

[drinkingmymilk]

If they bother you get get one made at a dentist. They are awesome I never even no mine is there.

[Fitz]

I"m a little skeptical on the whole "shattering your teeth" thing.... how many times have you ever heard of that happening?

Come see me and I'll smile for you. I shattered >50% of both my two upper front teeth mountain biking. I face planted after weighting the front end too much when I landed. Not a scratch on my face but I snapped them off clean.

Fitz

[NeverlosT]

Ive smashed my front teeth too mountain biking, its no fun as I am sure Fitz can tell you.

I'll wear one at the track for the same reason that was stated before, I can't think of a good reason not to.

Lots of us wear them downhilling now, they definitely help if you hit your noggin, and they definitely help mitigate damage if you land on your butt or something and send a lot of jarring forces up your spine to your head. You dont need something huge or anything, just a slim small guard to protect your front teeth and a little something to go between your upper and lower jaw to prevent smashing them together.

good thread

[OreoGaborio]

http://www.shockdoctor.com/product/8...outhguard.aspx

Recommended by Shock Doctor for motor sport use.

[Johnny B]

I researched this a few weks ago, found a lot of helpful comments on the WERA forum.

http://forums.13x.com/showthread.php?t=282150

http://forums.13x.com/showthread.php?t=229130

http://forums.13x.com/showthread.php?t=202461

http://forums.13x.com/showthread.php?t=174332

http://forums.13x.com/showthread.php?t=134868

[jamotech741]

Shock doctor website has some neat stuff, ill have to reconsider the mouthguard!!

[OreoGaborio]

Just purchased: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...STRK:MEBIDX:IT

[TTD]

I bought the double sided shock doctor (not the one Pete references above), and it just didn't work for me.

I like my helmets to snugly fit against my cheeks. With the mouthguard in, every time I opened my teeth a bit, my helmet would push my cheeks between my teeth so I could close them again. Anyway, if my helmet fit looser, this would not be a problem, but then again you are sacrificing head protection.

Having said all that... maybe the one Pete references above would work better as it only fits over the lower teeth?

[OreoGaborio]

That's what I'm betting on, Tony. Shock Doctor said the "Gravity 2" is for sports where a full face helmet is used.

It should be delivered in about a week. I'll test fit it and let you guys know how it goes.

[KB]

Chuck Norris would never wear a mouthguard

KB

[Mustang]

Another benefit - a mouthguard will provide much more protection against biting your tongue off (or at least severely bruising it). My first trip to Deal's Gap, one of the guys had a get-off in a ditch and chomped down on his tongue. He didn't severe it, but it was swollen and purple for ~ a week after. I'll see if I can dig up the pic when I get home...

[smf]

Just purchased: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...STRK:MEBIDX:IT

ordered? ya know sports authority has those in stock... at least they did last year when I bought mine

[OreoGaborio]

Well, they didn't have em at the one I went to. Besides, 22.50 shipped for mouthpiece and case. Best deal i could find on the net.

[Rada]

Pete, How has this worked out?

[TTD]

I'm interested also... anyone wearing one successfully and running hard at the track?

(and wear a helmet that slightly squeezes their cheeks?)

[Mustang]

(and wear a helmet that slightly squeezes their cheeks?)

I was contemplating this again at NJ this week, and wondering how the heck a mouthguard would fit. My helmet is pretty snug on my cheeks, and the mouthguards I used in martial arts earlier in life would seemingly be quite cumbersome, IIRC.

[Kurlon]

Once I'm done catching up on dental work I plan on having my dentist make me a custom one. If they aren't fitted correctly they can cause injuries just as much as they can prevent them.

[OreoGaborio]

Pete, How has this worked out?

I don't even notice it's there!




But that's mostly cuz I haven't used it yet I'll probably get it fitted up and try it out this coming race weekend.

[Chippertheripper]

I'm interested also... anyone wearing one successfully and running hard at the track?

(and wear a helmet that slightly squeezes their cheeks?)

I wear one running hard, but my hard is probably your soft...
It hasn't affected my breathing at all, but I have chewed off a few chunks concentrating. Also, it's difficult to come back in and talk shit to chuck right away. I sound like Charlie brown's teacher.

[DankDirtyBird]

Although I've never raced, I played competitive sports for a long time. The best thing I ever did with regards to a mouth guard was to have one made by your dentist. The ones they make stick to your teeth so you don't have to worry about them coming out. If you want to go fancy, they can do sweet colors as well.

[feralchimp]

Definitely on my gear list for the track. For guys that have been racing for a long time without one, I could see it being a tougher decision though.

[Puppet]

I'm interested also... anyone wearing one successfully and running hard at the track?

(and wear a helmet that slightly squeezes their cheeks?)

I wore one for two seasons when I was back east. Really need to start again. Used one of the Shock Doctor models. I liked the one that had the loop on the front for a tether because it was easier to pull out with gloves on while sitting on pre-grid. Never had any problems during the race. Sitting on pre-grid with it was a little annoying because its hard to talk with it under a tight helmet...and if I wasn't properly hydrated, i'd notice it drying out after the race was over, but both "problems" are easy to work around. Not really a big deal.

re: the helmet. My helmets (Arai Profiles) are very snug...and sized down for racing...so they squeeze my cheeks quite a bit.

[BMFR6]

Once I'm done catching up on dental work I plan on having my dentist make me a custom one. If they aren't fitted correctly they can cause injuries just as much as they can prevent them.

I've heard the above before, IIRC it has something do do with jaw alignment. But on top of that, I'm pretty sure Pete is on track re: shattering teeth. I think the biggest reason is preventing concussions. I think you would be hard pressed to find anyone in the GP paddock that doesn't wear one.

[drinkingmymilk]

Bumping this up.

I lost mine in the shuffle when Hawley crashed up in NH in October, just wondering what everyone is wearing and what your thoughts are. Thinking of trying one of those lower mouth jobbies this time around.

[Charlief]

Bumping this up.

I lost mine in the shuffle when Hawley crashed up in NH in October, just wondering what everyone is wearing and what your thoughts are. Thinking of trying one of those lower mouth jobbies this time around.

I got mine at Olympia Sports. Cost was around $30. It's the gel style that you put into hot water and it molds to your teeth. When wearing it I do t even know it's there.