Best Mouth Guards for Lacrosse, Football, Boxing, Grinding, and Sleeping
Looking for the best mouth guards for lacrosse? Here are our expertly vetted options to keep you safe and comfortable, plus picks for braces, trash talking, max protection and sleep.
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Why are mouth guards important?
Imagine a life where dentures are part of your morning routine. One bad accident on the field makes that a real possibility, because your teeth are at risk every time you step on it.
The National Library of Medicine estimates that the cost of treating one knocked-out tooth can run anywhere from $5,000 to $20,000 over your lifetime. Every season I see at least one kid show up to the first practice in Virginia Beach or upstate New York with a $3 guard he's already chewed through. That's the cheapest piece of gear in the bag, and the one protecting the most expensive thing on your body.
There are two types of mouth guards you can buy: boil-and-bite or lab custom. A boil-and-bite guard comes with a gel inside; you boil the whole guard, let it cool a bit, then bite into the gel so it forms to your teeth. Custom mouth guards are made from impressions you take with a kit and send to a lab, which builds a guard that fits your teeth perfectly.
How much are mouth guards from your dentist?
Mouth guards from your dentist can range from $300 to $1,000, depending on your insurance. The main advantage is the custom fit. In my experience, though, custom dentist guards wear down at the same rate and cost me more money in the long run.
Top 5 benefits of a mouth guard for sports
- Protects teeth and braces, saving you tens of thousands of dollars
- Hit harder knowing you're protected
- Intimidate your opponents with gnarly designs
- Hit new maxes in the gym by clenching safely
- Work your jaw with safe, high-resistance chewing
Top 5 issues with bad mouth guards
- Difficulty breathing due to blockage
- Less protection on hard hits
- Slurred speech
- Gagging, discomfort, and lack of focus
- Damaged teeth or braces
Do I need an upper and lower mouth guard?
The general consensus is that you only need one. Most damage comes from the lower teeth slamming into the upper teeth, and a single mouth guard protects that striking area. Wearing two is uncomfortable and unnecessary, and it makes talking harder.
How often do I have to replace mouth guards?
It really depends on how much you chew. Typically, a mouth guard lasts a season, but cheap guards and aggressive chewers can go through one in a month. We update this article regularly, so check back for the latest picks.
How can I reduce gagging on my mouth guard?
If you buy a cheaper mouth guard or have a smaller mouth, gagging can be an issue. The quick fix is to trim the ends with scissors, but we recommend spending a little more on a properly fitting guard. Many products on our list come in different sizes to prevent this in the first place.
Lacrosse rule check: mouth guards are required in youth, high school and college lacrosse, and they have to be a visible color. Here's why white mouthguards are illegal in lacrosse.
Our top picks
- Best overall: Shock Doctor Kool-Aid Flavored Boil-and-Bite
- Best for braces: Shock Doctor Double Braces
- Best for trash talking: SISU Aero
- Max protection: Impact Custom Professional
- Best case: VEAMOR UVC Case
Compare all 8
| # | Mouth guard | Type | Buy | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Shock Doctor Flavored Boil & Bite | Sports guard | See store | Shop |
| 02 | Shock Doctor Double Braces | Braces | $14.99 | Shop |
| 03 | SISU Aero | Sports guard | $22.00 | Shop |
| 04 | Impact Custom Professional | Specialty | — | Not at BL |
| 05 | Jawzz Silverback Teeth | Sports guard | — | Not at BL |
| 06 | Nxtrnd One (Lip Guard) | Specialty | $14.99 | Shop |
| 07 | Encore Custom Night Guard | Specialty | — | Not at BL |
| 08 | VEAMOR UVC Case | Specialty | $11.99 | Shop |
The best mouth guards for every scenario
1. Best Overall: Shock Doctor Kool-Aid Flavored Boil-and-Bite Mouth Guard Top pick
A reliable, cheap boil-and-bite with a cherry flavor that lasts as long as the guard does.
Shock Doctor is a well-known brand dating back to 1992. Most of their products are reliable and reasonably priced. They've collaborated with Kool-Aid, and the cherry flavor is top-notch and their class-leading flavor. They've also released blue raspberry, grape, and lime, but those aren't as good as the cherry.
Performance and fit are comparable to other products in this price range, but the flavored mouth guard costs slightly more than non-flavored products. The flavoring runs all the way through the mouth guard, so even if you chew through it, it'll still taste like cherry until it's unusable.
The boil-and-bite system is tried and true but won't give you the same comfort and protection as a more expensive lab custom mouth guard.
- Boil and bite molds to teeth
- Flavored material
- Inexpensive
- Encourages chewing
- One size can be too small for larger adults
- No case
Who it's for: Most players at every level who want a cheap, comfortable, molded guard.
At Battle Lax: Battle Lax carries Shock Doctor's flavored boil-and-bite line, the Gel Max Flavor Fusion.
2. Best for Braces: Shock Doctor Double Braces Mouth Guard
Upper and lower protection for players with braces. Not comfy, but it does the job.
The Shock Doctor Double Braces mouth guard is our pick for the best mouth guard for people with braces. The upper and lower guards give front impact protection to both sets of teeth, which you don't get with a single mouth guard, and that's important for players with braces.
The product isn't custom fit because teeth are shifting with braces. Custom-fit mouth guards hold teeth in place and need new molds after every tightening. Imagine the cost of a new mouth guard every month!
That said, this was by far the least comfortable mouth guard we tried. It gives you the protection you want but will take some getting used to. It's hard to talk in because it pushes your lips out even more than the braces do. Because of the necessary large size, it was designed with a bigger breathing hole than most competitors.
We think a double mouth guard is worth it to protect both sets of teeth from front impact for players with braces, but in most cases, just an upper guard is necessary.
- Comes in 2 sizes
- Fits over most braces
- Multiple colors
- Protects top and bottom braces
- Inexpensive
- No molding required
- Latex, BPA and phthalate free
- Difficult to talk in
- Possible drooling and gagging
- Pushes out lips
- Does not fit extremely crooked teeth
Who it's for: Players with braces, especially in contact positions.
At Battle Lax: Battle Lax carries Shock Doctor braces guards that need no boiling or molding: the strapless Braces Mouthguard, the Braces Mouthguard with Strap, and the Ultra Braces (often on clearance).
3. Best for Trash Talking: SISU Aero Medium Mouth Guard, Charcoal Black
Ultra-thin hard plastic that lets you talk (and talk trash) with it in.
The SISU mouth guard stood out because of its hard plastic design. Hard plastic allows for one of the thinnest-fitting mouth guards, and so one of the least invasive. You can speak more easily than with competitors since the plastic fits tightly to the upper teeth.
The hard plastic puts off some people who don't like a snug fit on the teeth, but I see it as an advantage if you want your mouth guard to stay put instead of being a rubbery chew toy. The drawback to fitting so tightly is that it can loosen, but it's reheatable and re-moldable, so you can realign it with your teeth.
To handle impact, the front top of the mouth guard digs into the upper lip a little, which might take time to get used to.
- BPA, BPS, latex, PVC and phthalate free
- Ultra-thin, high-strength material
- Inexpensive
- Re-moldable 20 times
- Comes in 3 sizes
- Many color options
- Might poke into upper lip
- No rubbery bite pads
- Snug fit may be uncomfortable
- No case
Who it's for: Middies and defenders who run the field and need to communicate on every possession.
At Battle Lax: Battle Lax doesn't carry SISU, but the Shock Doctor Trash Talker is built for the same thing: a low-profile guard you can talk in, compatible with braces and usable with or without a strap.
4. Max Protection: Impact Custom Professional Mouth Guard
Lab-custom, heavy-duty protection without the usual bulk.
The Impact lab custom mouth guard is our pick for a heavy-duty mouth guard. We chose a lab custom option because high-protection mouth guards are very thick, and Impact cuts down on unnecessary material with a custom lab fit.
This mouth guard is ideal for boxing and MMA since it's designed to handle repeated blows. A heavy-duty mouth guard is safer for other sports too, but it's only really necessary for the most dangerous ones. Talking was a bit of a challenge, but much easier than other mouth guards of this strength.
- Lab custom fit
- Disperses force better
- Easier to speak
- No airway blockage
- Many color options
- Comes with case
- Long delivery due to custom fit
- Thicker than lighter options
- Expensive
Who it's for: Boxing, MMA and anyone who wants the most protection money can buy.
At Battle Lax: Battle Lax doesn't sell lab-custom mouth guards. For lacrosse, a quality boil-and-bite or the Shock Doctor Trash Talker covers most players.
5. Intimidation: Jawzz White Silverback Teeth Mouth Guard
K9 fangs you can see from across the field.
When it comes to intimidating mouth guards, the options were a lot less exciting than I expected. Most designs were cringey or just didn't look real. The white Silverback Teeth stood out because of the aggressive K9 teeth and because the teeth can be recognized from much farther away than some of the more detailed designs.
The Jawzz Rabid design seemed more intimidating online, but in practice the thin teeth didn't give the desired effect. This is a larger mouth guard that offers some extra protection, but it may be uncomfortable for some.
- Boil and bite custom fit
- Intimidating design
- Comfortable fit
- Inexpensive
- BPA, phthalate and latex free
- Case included
- A bit bulky
- Average protection
Who it's for: Players who want to look like they bite.
At Battle Lax: Battle Lax doesn't carry Jawzz. Note that some leagues limit mouth guard designs, so check your rules before game day.
6. Lip Cover: Nxtrnd One Mouth Guard with Straps
Full lip coverage and a strap, with a breathing hole in the middle.
Some sports occasionally require a lip cover and strap. Our recommended product is the Nxtrnd because of its breathing hole in the middle of the guard and its affordable price. The bite pad between the teeth is flexible and has some give when you bite down.
It isn't custom, but we don't see that as an issue because you'll want to take it out anyway, and the strap keeps it close. This mouth guard is harder to talk in than the others since it covers the whole mouth, but it provides lip protection most guards can't.
- Lip cover
- Straps
- Breathable
- Durable material
- Large in the mouth
- Strap issues attaching to helmets
- Fit isn't custom
Who it's for: Players who want lip protection or a strapped guard.
At Battle Lax: Battle Lax doesn't carry the Nxtrnd lip guard, but if you want a guard that straps to your facemask, the Shock Doctor Braces Mouthguard with Strap attaches to a helmet or face mask.
7. Sleep / Grinding: Encore Custom Dental Night Guard
A thin, lab-fit night guard for grinders and light sleepers.
During our research, we found that most people who wear mouth guards actually use them for sleeping and to prevent grinding. So it seemed fair to include our best pick for sleep: the Encore lab custom night guard.
Personally, I felt it was worth buying a lab custom mouth guard for sleeping because I'm a light sleeper, and the thin guard was easier to fall asleep in. A boil-and-bite guard isn't as tight around the teeth and can fall out during sleep. This lab custom fit reduces movement in the mouth and has low edges so it doesn't poke under the lips.
While it's expensive, it costs much less than dentist custom guards at $300 to $1,000. Aggressive grinders will still be able to break through it, but I'd rather replace this guard than a dentist's guard.
- One of the thinnest mouth guards available
- Lab fit
- Easy to talk with
- Clear material
- Expensive
- Takes 2-3 weeks for custom fit
- Questionable protection for sports
Who it's for: Grinders and anyone who needs a night guard (not for game day).
At Battle Lax: This is a sleep guard, not a sports guard, so Battle Lax doesn't carry anything like it.
8. Mouth Guard Case: VEAMOR UVC Mouth Guard Case
A UV-sanitizing case big enough for double guards and lip guards.
Some mouth guards come with cheap plastic cases that do the job, but if you want something better, we recommend the VEAMOR UVC mouth guard case. It's large enough for double mouth guards and lip guards. The UV light kills 99.99% of bacteria, and vent holes prevent buildup even when the light is off. The clip lets you attach it to the outside of your bag.
The battery life is short, so if you want your mouth guard disinfected around the clock, you'll have to plug it in several times a week. You'll still need to wash the guard if you drop it in the dirt. I wouldn't call it fragile, but the electronics can break if it's tossed around at the bottom of a backpack.
- Large size fits guards with lip covers
- Can sanitize other items too
- Non-chemical cleaning
- FDA approved
- Doesn't remove physical contaminants like dirt
- Still needs regular cleaning
- Costs more than a non-UV case
- Requires frequent charging
Who it's for: Players who want a cleaner guard (and parents who have smelled a mouth guard after a summer tournament).
At Battle Lax: Battle Lax carries the Shock Doctor Mouthguard Case: a ventilated, heavy-duty case with a carabiner and drip slot that holds two mouth guards or one lip guard.
View all mouth guards at Battle Lax
People also ask
Do you need a mouth guard for lacrosse?
Yes. Mouth guards are required in boys' and girls' lacrosse at the youth, high school and college levels, and most leagues require a visible color, not clear or white.
What is the best mouth guard for lacrosse?
For most players, a quality boil-and-bite guard like Shock Doctor's flavored line is the best value. Players with braces should use a braces-specific guard, and players who need to talk on the field should look at a low-profile guard like the Shock Doctor Trash Talker.
How often should you replace a mouth guard?
Typically once a season. Aggressive chewers and cheap guards can wear out in as little as a month.
Do I need an upper and lower mouth guard?
Usually not. Most damage comes from the lower teeth slamming into the upper teeth, so a single upper guard protects the striking area. Players with braces may want a double guard.
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