4 Mistakes People Make When Purchasing a Mouthguard

Choosing the right mouthguard can be the difference between staying protected and suffering a costly dental injury. Over the years, I’ve seen athletes make the same mistakes again and again. I even made some of these mistakes myself early on in my Jiu-Jitsu training — and they ended up changing the course of my life. Here are the four most common mouthguard mistakes, and how to avoid them.

1. Choosing the Cheapest Option Available

I’ll admit — this was the mistake I made. When I started training Jiu-Jitsu, I spent my money on a high-end Gi, rash guard, and shorts. By the time I got to the counter at my local fight shop, the mouthguard felt like an afterthought. I grabbed the cheapest option available — a $10 boil-and-bite guard.

The problem? It was bulky, slid around in my mouth, and made it hard to breathe. One day during sparring, I took it out just to catch my breath. Seconds later, I collided with  my grappling partner and took a direct hit to the mouth. The impact injured my front teeth — an accident that still costs me dentist visits to this day.

The blessing in disguise? That experience inspired me to start Damage Control Mouthguards. I realized that if athletes had better options — ones they actually wanted to wear — they would be safer and perform better.

2. Prioritizing Comfort Over Protection

Some companies sell slim, low-profile boil-and-bite guards that feel great. You can talk, breathe, and even drink water easily with them. For sports with lower impact — like basketball, baseball, or soccer — these can be fine.

But for high-impact sports like rugby, football, boxing, or MMA? They simply don’t cut it. I’ve seen athletes step into the ring wearing these paper-thin guards, and I honestly cringe, hoping they don’t take a direct shot to the mouth. The science is clear: guards that are too thin can’t absorb or disperse the force of a serious hit. Comfort matters, but protection must come first.

3. Not Considering the Sport

Different sports require different levels of protection. If your sport has a high probability of contact to the mouth — football, rugby, boxing, MMA striking — you need a thicker guard engineered to absorb more force.

On the other hand, in grappling sports like Jiu-Jitsu or wrestling, where strikes are less common, a thinner mouthguard can provide the comfort and breathability you need. At Damage Control, we design guards for both ends of the spectrum: our High Impact and Extreme Impact lines are built for heavy contact, while our thinner guards work perfectly for lower-impact scenarios.

4. Settling for Poor Fit & Breathability

Most off-the-shelf guards from sporting goods stores fall into one of two traps:

• They’re bulky and protective, but make it hard to breathe.

• Or they’re slim and comfortable, but don’t offer enough protection.

Neither option is ideal — and both can leave athletes vulnerable.

The Solution: Custom Fit & Tailored Protection

The best mouthguard is one that balances fit, protection, and breathability. That’s why custom fit is the gold standard. At Damage Control, we take impressions of your teeth and handcraft each guard to your exact anatomy.

The result?

• A secure snap-fit that won’t shift around.

• Sport-specific thickness for the right balance of comfort and protection.

• A guard that lasts — many of our customers wear theirs for years before noticing signs of wear.

A mouthguard shouldn’t be an afterthought. It’s essential equipment that protects your smile, your game, and your long-term health. Don’t make the same mistakes I did — choose a guard designed for your sport and your needs.

Written by Delano Romero CEO/Founder of Damage Control Mouthguards