Jun 28, 2023

The history of sports mouthguards

Back in the day, like way back in the early 1900s, sports mouthguards burst onto the scene to save athletes from dental disasters. Fast forward to today, they have become an absolute must-have in a whole bunch of sports. The history of sports mouthguards is a wild ride of cool ideas, experiments, and the realization that keeping your mouth and noggin safe is a top priority in sports.

The evolution of mouthguards

Picture this: it's the early 1900s, and there's this awesome dentist named Dr. George Franklyn. Now, Doc Franklyn wasn't just any old dentist; he was a boxer too. One day, he saw a fellow boxer lose a few teeth during a match, and that sparked a lightbulb moment. Dr. Franklyn thought, "Hey, maybe I should create something to protect those pearly whites!" And that's when the first mouthguard came to life—a piece of moulded rubber that fit right over the teeth. Sure, it might seem primitive now, but it kickstarted a revolution in sports safety.

By the 1920s and 1930s, mouthguards started spreading like wildfire to other sports like American football and ice hockey. But here's the catch—they were clunky, uncomfortable, and made it hard to breathe. Yeah, not exactly ideal for playing sports, right? But hey, it was a start.

Fast forward to the 60s and 70s, and that's when the mouthguard game levelled up big time. New materials like polyvinyl acetate (PVA) and silicone joined the party, making mouth guards comfier and more protective than ever before. And get this—custom-fit mouth guards hit the scene too. Dentists would make moulds of athletes' teeth, create personalized gum shield, and voila! A perfect fit for maximum protection. Gone were the days of one-size-fits-all mouthguards, and athletes were stoked.

Mouthguard in Sports and Why it matters

As time went on, mouth guards found their way into a whole bunch of sports, from football to basketball, hockey to lacrosse, and even rugby. The American Dental Association (ADA) stepped in, cheering on mouthguard use, and states even started passing laws to make them mandatory in school sports.

But the story doesn't end there. In recent years, folks have been waking up to the importance of protecting the mouth and head. That's why the design and materials of mouthguards keep getting better and better. We're talking about cutting-edge stuff like EVA and TPU materials that offer top-notch protection and comfort.

Superior protection and style: Safejawz revolutionizes sports mouthguards

Developed in the UK, the SAFEJAWZ mouthguard is a truly revolutionary self-fit mouthguard. Our brand has a long history of making custom mouthguards for dentists and all this knowledge has been put into developing what we believe is the best-fitting range of self-fit mouthguards in the world.

Here are some of the revolutionary technologies we have developed with our mouthguards:

Fluid Fit™ Technology means that SAFEJAWZ® guards feature a super-slim profile and great retentive qualities. The guard will essentially clip onto the teeth & fit comfortably so that breathing, talking and drinking will not be a problem.
Jaw Secure™ also offers protection to the jaw and lower teeth. The pre-occluded base and raised impact pads on the bottom of the product act as a buffer to prevent damage from impact to the lower jaw.
Remodel Tech™ ensures you can have multiple attempts to achieve the game-changing fit that we as so proud of.

Our founders, two athletes who were sick and tired of the lack of quality, customized mouthguards out there, had the vision to create something amazing—mouthguards that were super comfy, let you breathe like a boss, and offered unrivalled protection. Plus, we've also got all kinds of fantastic designs and colours, so you can rock your own style while dominating the field.

It's no surprise that Safejawz quickly became the go-to brand for rugby, boxing, and other contact sports. We're a name you can trust, and we are still constantly researching and developing new technologies to make our mouthguards even more awesome.

So, don't wait for another second. Get yourself a Safejawz mouthguard and step onto the field with confidence. Your smile will thank you!