BJJ Mouthguard: Why You Need One and How to Choose
A mouthguard is one of the most important and overlooked pieces of equipment in BJJ. Protect your teeth and jaw with this essential guide.
Why BJJ Requires a Mouthguard
Accidental elbows, knees, and head collisions happen in BJJ even in controlled training. Without a mouthguard, a sudden impact can chip or break teeth, damage dental work, or cause jaw injuries. A quality mouthguard absorbs and distributes impact force, significantly reducing injury risk. The cost of a single dental repair vastly exceeds the cost of good mouthguard protection.
Types of Mouthguards
Boil-and-bite mouthguards are the most common option — affordable, available at sporting goods stores, and fit reasonably well. Custom mouthguards from a dentist fit precisely and are more comfortable but cost significantly more. For BJJ, a mouthguard that does not interfere with breathing is important — avoid bulky designs that cause mouth breathing during rolling.
Top Mouthguard Options for BJJ
Shock Doctor, Battle, and SISU are popular options. SISU thin guards in particular have become popular in BJJ and grappling because they allow normal breathing and speech while providing adequate protection. Custom guards from your dentist are the gold standard but represent a significant investment that becomes worthwhile for regular training.
Train Smarter with AI
AI coaching, training journal, technique library — all free to start.
Start Free