You’ve decided to take the step into getting your hands on a custom mouthguard, and you’re not sure which is the better buy.
Between the Impact Mouthguards vs Gladiator Guards, there are a few key differences that make one the better choice.
The Impact Mouthguards custom mouthguard is the better choice for MMA and other martial arts use because it offers the best comfort and flawless jaw protection. The Gladiator Guards Pro is cheaper but less comfortable for combat sports.
To understand all the differences between each option, keep scrolling as I’ll compare the features of both and then give you a helpful guide to picking a mouthguard for fighting.
Let’s get to it!
Table of Contents
Impact Mouthguards vs. Gladiator Guards compared
I’ll break down the features and explain why you should (or shouldn’t) consider either option for that purpose.
We’re going to look at features you likely want to know about each option, like how comfortable they are, how much protection you get, style, and usefulness for martial arts.
I’ve already written a full Impact mouthguards review if you want to learn more about why that guard is my top choice.
Quick summary
Here are the two options we’re comparing if you want to get a quick snapshot of the good and bad about each:
Impact Mouthguards custom mouthguard
Gladiator Guards Pro mouthguard
Comfort
The comfort level could come down to whether you are used to wearing a custom mouthguard.
The difference from a regular boil-and-bite can be a bit unsettling at first and take some time to get used to.
The level of material in a Gladiator Guard is designed to be thin, repeatedly usable, and for a variety of cases.
As the Gladiator Guard represents something more similar to general sports mouthguards, it could be much cozier for many people.
But it does beg the question of whether it is effective enough for the heavy striking in combat sports like boxing, Muay Thai, etc.
The mouthguard by Gladiator Guards is designed to be adaptable.
The custom Impact Mouthguards are specifically tailored toward heavy combat sports.
They have perfected the construction of a mouthguard where the material is extremely pliable and can be used across combat sports.
t’s almost chewy, which makes it more enjoyable to wear – especially for teeth grinders.
It also has a much thicker material that allows for a very snug fit over your entire set of teeth.
Gladiator Guards, on the other hand, don’t typically have the same amount of material coverage.
But with mixed martial arts, you need to ensure that you are getting adequate protection for your jaw.
And an Impact custom mouthguard does that with the extra material. It sits higher up your gums, whereas the Gladiator is more similar to standard mouthguards.
Many martial artists describe Impact’s mouthguards as being very comfortable and provide a good sense of security while sparring, which helps with confidence.
Protection
An Impact custom mouthguard purchase allows you to customize it to be slightly more useful for different martial arts – if you buy on their website directly.
So you can pay a little extra fee and get more dense coverage to absorb heavy blows in the striking arts like boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, etc.
It’s well worth it if you’re considering doing full-contact sparring.
On the Gladiator Guards’ side, the Pro model has decent protection for most contact sports, but fighters might need their most protective guard in the Elite model:
“The Elite is our thickest style offering the most protection. Due to its thickness, the Elite is perfected for combat sports, built to withstand constant and deliberate blows to the mouth and face.”
GladiatorGuards.com
It’s quite clear to me that while GG has a slightly upgraded version for martial arts needs, the Impact option still has the densest coverage over the gums to maintain protection during fighting.
Style
When considering the style possibilities between the two mouthguards, the Impact is a clear favorite.
It’s largely down to the huge range of existing designs to choose from in their collection, but then how you can also customize it if you want to.
You can choose from their huge selection of vibrant colors, teeth, flags, logos, and more.
And after that, you can even add your own personalization.
With the Gladiator Guards, you can still add personalization and your own logo – but the default range of style options is pretty limited and is also not very appealing, either.
Durability
The Impact mouthguards are renowned for their durability. They last most people up to a year of face-smacking and teeth-grindin’.
Gladiator Guards are also known to have a good length of durability.
But the extra material behind an Impact custom mouthguard, especially if you upgrade for a striking martial art option, has just way more chewy gum shielding that lasts.
It’ll hold up for even some of the most adamant teeth grinders during live rolling on the mats, and will hold up well for striking sparring.
Using for martial arts
I mentioned earlier that Impact gives you extra customizing options to add more material for striking martial arts.
Because of this, you can feel secure in the knowledge that you are getting the right mouthguard for your needs.
With Gladiator Guards, the options come in different models, such as Pro for most sports and the Elite model, which is specialized for heavy combat sports.
Which Gladiator option you need may depend on how heavy or regular you are sparring.
Impact mouthguards have been a popular choice for martial artists specializing in striking and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
The reason many BJJ practitioners go with Impact is because of its pliable material as well as the ease of speaking while training.
Many rollers can train, ask questions, and progress by retaining their ability to communicate with their rolling partner or coach.
The Gladiator Guards Elite model is designed for striking and would be a good option for those mainly involved in boxing, Muay Thai, kickboxing, etc.
They also have the Pro model, still designed for full-contact sports, and may be a good option for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners or wrestlers.
Most grapplers need their mouthguard to withstand the test of time with grinding of teeth more than for taking strikes to the face.
Both these custom mouthguards offer great options for specialty martial arts.
If you need more protection against heavy striking, you can get it with Impact. If you’re rolling, both might be good options as well.
Using for multiple sports
Impact custom mouthguards are generally all the same style (except for their night guards and powerlifting guards) and shape.
Impact guards are thick and cover a large part of the gums. During customization, you can select your sport.
Most sports are included in the price for an Impact custom guard, but when you choose something more tailored for being struck in the face often, the price rises.
This happens because extra material is used to create the guard, covering more teeth and gum areas for maximum protection.
As a mixed martial artist, you need to make sure you are going for the appropriate version. It will give you the best fit for what you do.
This does affect the Impact mouthguard being useful for multiple sports.
The thicker and more material with a martial arts customized option could result in not less comfort for other sports. You’ll get extra protection, but you might not need it.
Think about how long you would wear a guard in a striking art, like boxing or Muay Thai. You’ll usually only be wearing it for actual sparring rounds.
Rounds can last just a few minutes. And the purpose of the guard in sparring is to protect your jaw and skull from sudden strikes. It’s a burst contact sport.
When it comes to a sport that has less likelihood of sudden strikes to the jaw, then the protection level around the gums might not be as necessary.
You might spend more time grinding and biting down with your teeth, which would be the majority of your needs for the guard.
So as you’re developing your skills, you’ll likely be exploring different martial arts simultaneously. So having a guard that can adapt with you is pretty important.
Even in a martial art like BJJ or Wrestling, you aren’t as likely to be struck in the face – though it does happen. The guard is protecting from long-term grinding more than from specific strikes.
With that in mind, by default, the Impact custom mouthguard might not be the best multi-use guard for a martial artist who practices striking and ground fighting styles.
The Gladiator Guards, particularly the Elite model, are designed to be adaptive for various full-contact sports.
There may be some slightly lower protection levels with their Pro model as they don’t add extra material specifically for combat sports like MMA.
But they do claim that the Elite model was designed for constant and deliberate blows to the face.
Guide to picking a custom mouthguard
If you’re still a bit stuck with picking out the right option, then the following considerations might help to decide what to buy.
I’ve already detailed some of these features that you should care about in a custom mouthguard, but below is more detail and explanation for each factor.
Picking for comfort
When you’re sparring or rolling with your opponent, the last thing you want to be thinking about is some kind of irritation in your teeth or gums.
It’s going to throw you off your game and end up with you being punched in the mouth.
That kind of defeats the purpose of a mouthguard, doesn’t it?
So making sure you get a custom mouthguard with a very comfortable fit for your particular set of teeth is essential.
The protection level of any mouthguard, especially a custom one, will take you 70-80% of the way.
But if things are moving around too much and it’s not snug, it’s going to be frustrating and potentially less reliable for protection.
Pick a custom mouthguard that is well-reviewed to help fighters get a great fit for their jawline and teeth, because that’s the critical step for wearing a comfortable mouthguard that won’t slip out or hurt your gums.
Picking for protection
It goes without saying. Your mouthguard must have a high level of protection and be thoroughly tested.
And I don’t just mean tested in the factory or on some dummy. I mean tested by real people and real fighters who are constantly taking fists, elbows, knees, and feet to the face on a regular basis.
Fighters can only know best whether their guard is standing the test of their sparring. So which stands up with the highest and most tested level of protection is what you’re after.
Picking for style
If you want to look good while fighting, then the style of your mouthguard might be important for you.
Great mouthguard options come in a variety of designs that are particularly eye-catching, which makes the sparring experience all the more fun.
There are mouthguards with the joker smile, or the American flag, or diamond teeth.
Some can even be customized with your own logo or name if that’s what you fancy.
And some are a more classic sport style, but that can be boring for some people.
I know fighters who usually want the flashiest gear they can get to look the most outrageous while throwing bombs.
Picking for durability
The reliability of a custom mouthguard has a lot to do with its durability.
Especially for martial arts, you need a mouthguard that can sustain a lot of beatings and grinding.
Grappling martial arts will often lead to a lot of teeth grinding and clenching.
Striking martial arts often means a lot of heavy blunt force.
So, picking a mouthguard that will last for several months through both tests is critical.
A boil-and-bite mouthguard might last you a couple of months if you’re a hard trainer, and more if you’re not sparring that much.
A custom mouthguard should last 6 months or more, if you take care of it. Pick a mouthguard like this which has evidence of lasting a long time.
Picking for martial arts use
The range of mouthguards available out there is pretty overwhelming.
When it comes to custom mouthguards, the options reduce a bit further because of the superior product level you’re going for.
But having a mouthguard that is specific to the intended purpose is something you should be thinking about.
There’s a difference between playing field hockey and fighting, for example.
Both examples could equal a heavy impact to the face.
But there’s nothing quite like the fight game where your opponent is fully intending to hit you where it hurts – repeatedly.
Your mouthguard needs to be able to protect your jaw as much as it can and for A LOT of repetitions.
With the right protection surrounding your gums, it can have a huge impact on protection for the rest of your jaw, face, skull, and even brain.
Despite wearing a full head guard for full-intensity sparring, the mouth guard is your last line of defense. So, better get it right.
Think about the constant needs of the practice. In BJJ, you’re typically trying to beat your opponent in longer sustained periods of strength and technical movement.
While getting a rare elbow to the face is likely, most of the intensity is squeezing your teeth together to sustain strength in defensive positions.
This is why a lot of mouthguards that are good at protecting your teeth from grinding are good for BJJ, because they’re more tailored towards clenching the jaw excessively.
But for striking, like Muay Thai or Boxing, you are being punched in the face persistently. Biting down on your mouthguard is useful for taking a punch (and protecting your jaw/brain) as well as for throwing a strong punch.
A mouthguard that’s better for striking can be different and have more material surrounding the gums that is thicker so that it can absorb and spread more force evenly during a shock to the head.
So that’s grappling vs striking is something to be aware of when choosing a mouthguard for martial arts.
Picking for multiple sports use
You may be someone who is as much rolling on the BJJ mats as you are sprinting down the field in football.
When that’s the case, you might want to consider picking the mouthguard that gives you the most flexibility.
After all, a custom mouthguard is much pricier than your typical options (like a boil-and-bite guard), and investing all that cash just for one use case might feel like the wrong choice.
You can always pick up an extra boil-and-bite mouthguard for medium contact-level sports, but you won’t get the same level of protection as a custom mouthguard.
If you have the funds, getting more than one custom guard might actually be the best choice.
The Impact custom mouthguard I recommended is the best for mixed martial arts needs, whereas the Gladiator Guards Pro is really good and has a minimal form factor for use in many other sports that aren’t about getting punched in the mouth.
There can be differences in the guards needed for a particular sport.
And you should consider how each sport can be different in the level of contact or impact (especially that to your head).
For example, rolling in BJJ is quite different from striking. And football is quite different from soccer. The contact level changes.
Are custom mouth guards worth it?
You can grab a common boil and bite mouthguard cheaply and easily from most sports stores, dentists, and more. But a custom mouthguard offers a much greater level of protection, comfort, and versatility that makes them worthwhile.
Which type of sports mouth guard is most effective?
A custom-molded mouth guard is the most effective option for combat sports. Having a mold specifically designed for your set of teeth can prevent concussions and brain trauma by as much as 52% than a traditional boil and bite mouthguard.
How long do custom mouth guards last?
Custom mouthguards can last longer than boil and bites due to high-quality materials, even up to many years as long as you take good care of them It’s important to cold rinse your mouthguard after every use and you may wish to replace it annually to prevent bacteria.
Can custom mouth guards damage your teeth?
Custom mouthguards are specially designed around your teeth to protect them, not cause any damage. As long as you use your mouthguard for its intended purpose, like when doing sports, then you shouldn’t have any problems.
Will using a custom mouth guard hurt my teeth?
Some people experience discomfort using a custom mouth guard for the first week of use. But if you usually grind your teeth during contact sports, like clenching your jaw, wearing a custom mouth guard will almost certainly prevent you from damaging your teeth further.
Can I use my custom mouth guard at night to sleep with?
A custom-fit combat sports mouth guard is only intended to be used whilst doing the activity. They aren’t suitable to be used as a nightguard to stop things like snoring or teeth grinding. Instead, you should pick out a specialty night mouthguard.
My final verdict
For me, the Impact custom mouthguard offers the greatest combination of features for mixed martial artists.
It has extra layered protection for the gums that helps with full-contact sparring.
And it also has pliable comforts that make it suitable for long-term use in grappling like Jiu-Jitsu, wrestling, or Sambo.