Issue 096
December 2012
Everything you need to know about the one thing that’s going to stop Dan Henderson’s right hand from cracking your pearly whites.
1. Humble beginnings
Mouthguards weren’t always as simple as boil and bite – after all, that doesn’t work on wood. Yes, boxers used to protect their teeth with things such as cotton, sponge and small pieces of wood. Oh how we’ve grown…
2. British brilliance
Regardless of the fact his name sounds incredibly German, Woolf Krause was actually a British dentist who helped create mouthguards that boxers could use by using natural rubber resin and gutta-percha.
3. All in the family
The Krause family didn’t stop there with their innovation, as Woolf’s son, Phillip, is considered the first person to have created a reusable mouthpiece, with the first one being used in a championship bout between Jack Britton and Ted Lewis in 1916.
4. Who dunnit?
There has been some speculation as to who actually created the mouthguard, as American dentists Thomas A Carlos and E Allen Franke have both claimed they were the inventors. Who do you believe?
5. Show me what you’re made of
When you’re throwing your mouthguard into your chops before you embark on an sparring session, do you ever take a second to think about what material you’re actually putting inside there? To calm any potential fears, we thought you should know a boil-and-bite mouth guard is only made of safe thermo-plastic material.
6. It’s a TUF life
In 2009, during The Ultimate Fighter 9, contestant Frankie Lester said he was going to knock out James Wilk’s teeth. Things went the opposite way, though, as Lester had his four front teeth knocked out and lodged into his mouth guard.
7. Catch me if you can
If you didn’t know this already, mouthguards won’t stay inside your mouth no matter what – especially if you get cracked with a hard shot you’re not expecting. As former UFC 155lb champion Frankie Edgar discovered against Ben Henderson in August this year, when he caught his mouthpiece in mid air then replaced it, after it was slapped from between his gnashers by ‘Smooth.’ An Octagon first.
8. The innovators
Other sports have noticed the benefits of using mouthguards to make sure their sportsmen and women don’t lose their winning grin. Mouthpieces are used in sports such as rugby, wrestling, football and even hockey.
9. Say my name
Depending on the way you’re using the mouthguard, it could have a different name. They can also be referred too as a gumshield, occlusal splint, bite plane and many more.
10. It’s not a knockout
You may feel like you’d be seen as the tougher man if you went into a fight without wearing a mouthguard, that is until you’re left lying on your face because you’ve been separated from your senses. But how does a mouthguard stop you from becoming part of someone’s highlight reel? Well, a properly fitted mouthguard can reduce the chance of a fighter sustaining a concussion from a blow to the jaw. Essential kit for all.
