Why Do Strongman Wear Mouthguards?

Strongman lift heavy on a regular basis, and if you pay close attention to their lifting attire, you will notice that strongman wear mouthguards. You may not think about wearing a mouthguard when lifting, thinking it is for contact sports. This is not the case, as strongman wear mouthguards for multiple reasons.

Lifting heavy will cause maximum intensity, and strongman tend to clench their teeth together. What is not known is that clenching your teeth can help with overall strength and power. If you take note of how you lift, how often do you do a heavy set with your mouth open?

A mouthguard can help protect teeth from the force that you may put on it. Don’t forget there are muscles in your face, jaw, and neck that needs to be protected if you want to keep your good looks! Strongman constantly lift up heavy things, stressing out their bodies, making mouthguards essential.

What Happens If Strongman Don’t Wear A Mouthguard?

Simply, your teeth will be severely impacted if you are into strongman training. Clenching your teeth while lifting your maximum weight in a lift can cause some real damage. There are many potential risks of not using a mouthguard according to Dr. Angelique Freking with Park Slope Dental.

• Fractured teeth
• Eroded enamel
• Strain headaches (been there!)

If you take a look at the professional strongman on the circuit, you will realise they all have great teeth! This is not from a few trips to the dentist, wearing braces or genetics. They take great care of their teeth with a mouthguard. A strongman takes care of their whole body, as it plays a huge role in their heavy lifts.

Why Do Strongman Wear A Mouthguard?

Apart from the obvious of protecting their teeth, there are many benefits to strongman wearing a mouthguard. Tactically a mouthguard reminds them to bite down which helps the body go into full strength. From studies, most lifters including strongman found using a mouthguard better when going for their big lifts.

When strongman bite down on their mouthguards, it can help position their jaw in a supported position. It can be compared to lifting with a displaced hip, not allowing the body to perform in the most optimal way. With their jaw in the right place, it can make it easier to breathe. Having the mouthguard can open your airways when your jaw is in the right place. More oxygen in your muscles can help you continue your workout. Keeping your lungs filled with air is vital to avoid passing out.

Have you ever had a mouth cramp? It is painful! Having a mouthguard can avoid any type of facial injuries that may be caused by stress from the face. You may be thinking to yourself, my face doesn’t lift up the weight! Look in the mirror, you face tenses! If it ain’t, you aren’t lifting heavy!

Who knew so much was behind a simple mouthguard!

What Mouthguards Do Strongman Wear?

Most strongman get their mouthguards from the same company, Newage Performance. Now they don’t come cheap, coming at $40 per piece. Despite this, if you want the best strongman mouthguard, this is the one. Eddie Hall has credited their product line and even promoted the company during 2017, the same time as his 2017 World’s Strongest Man win.

According to Eddie Hall, he was skeptical of the product at first. I mean who wouldn’t for something that cost $40 that can be deemed unnecessary! He stated on his official Facebook page back in June 2017:

You got to give some things a try in life. This is one of the things I am glad I did. Especially for strength sports, it is proven science. You pop this in your mouth and it aligns the jaw and the muscles, which in turn balances the rest of the body. Not only is it gland protection its balance, its stability, its core. Its meant to improve flexibility and range of motion. It is all like a trigger point for me. When I pop it in my mouth, that is my trigger point, I know when to turn things on like my aggression.

This is the mouthguard to try out if you are proactively training in strongman. Take it from ‘The Beast’ Eddie Hall. He managed to deadlift 500kg while wearing it!

Not convinced? 4 time World’s Strongest Man winner Brian Shaw is another professional strongman to wear the Newage Performance mouthguard. According to Shaw, “I absolutely love it… It prevents my teeth from fracturing and I feel the difference in my performance.”

Instead of a cheat meal, why not improve your performance by trying out a mouthguard by the legends of the sport!

What Mouthguards Are Good For Strongman?

If the Newage Performance mouthguard is out of your price range, are there any alternative mouthguards for strongman? End of the day, all mouthguards do the same, protect your teeth and avoiding a costly dental bill! There can be differences in design and functionality when choosing a mouthguard, depending on what the primarily use it is for.

First of all, go for a mouthguard that is not too thick. The thickness will influence how easy it is to breathe through. Mouthguards should be used for maximum lifts, so a thicker mouthguard is better. If you want to wear a mouthguard for long durations during your workout, a thinner mouthguard is more suitable.

Secondly, you need to mold the mouthguard to your mouth. This is known as the boiling mold process. Every mouthguard has their own specifics, so boil the mouthguard, allow it some time to cool down and put it in your mouth to help it align with your teeth.

With anything you test out while trying out strongman or lifting, have a test run. Like a new belt, give it a whirl. You will known when it is a good fit. If you can apply pressure on your teeth without pain, clenching your jaw and having a good airflow, you have a winner! Most mouthguards will protect the upper teeth, but if you feel like your bottom teeth need attention, consult your orthodontist!

Final Thoughts

If this article hasn’t convinced you to get a mouthguard for strongman or even lifting, then you are not lifting heavy enough! Mouthguards are used by the top professionals on the circuit, crediting mouthguards for extra aggression, teeth protection and better airflow. Newage Protection mouthguards are the go to, but if you want other options, just ensure that you choose a mouthguard that is thicker and ensures good airflow.

Like a lifting belt, it is a necessity to provide more stability and less stress on a body part. A mouthguard is exactly the same.