re: Mouth guard for football.

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I used to cut out the back enough where it wouldn’t gag me. Even a couple of centimeters can help.

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I played 8th grade football many many moons ago.

For me the clear mouthpiece that molds to your upper teeth didn't really work. What I ended up using was a larger one that molded to both upper and lower teeth as well as had a lip guard.

Looking on Google it looks like Shock Doctor is the modern equivalent.

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Always just boiled it in water and then bit down onto it to create a mold. Much easier to wear after that

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They told it to boil it, but I don’t think he realized it was to help him shape it after. He thought it was to kill germs, I think. Thanks.

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Then I cannot stress enough your insistence that he wears a cup at all times, including practices

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I’d like grandchildren one day, so I’ll ask him to wear a cup. He already wears one for baseball, so it shouldn’t be a hard sell.

Regarding the mouthpieces, do y’all know if there is any basic standard I should be looking for? Like baseball headgear needs to be NOCSAE certified. I’m sure the school district gave him the correct one, but I want to make sure I don’t mess up buying a new one.

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Your son needs to grow a pair and deal with it. If he wants to play football and cries over that imagine when someone hits him hard in practice.

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So just because catchers are supposed to be tough they should just suck it up the whole season if their shin guards are too tight? The position is hard enough without improperly fitting gear. I imagine football is the same.

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Tell your husband to do his job

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He never played football, and besides, virtually all complaints/help requests come to me whether athletic, academic, or otherwise. Just how it is.

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My middle school son is playing his first ever year of football. He’s been complaining about the mouth guard, saying that he hates to wear it

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Doesn’t have the making of a varsity athlete.

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boiling and forming allows it to stick on your upper teeth so you can open your mouth and breathe and speak. Don’t want it floating around in there, baw.

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I completely agree and will not ever buy a no boil mouth piece that doesn’t have the front piece that prevents it from going deeper into the mouth. This is the style my son has used and loved

After boiling and leaving teeth imprint, cut it down to where it is comfortable, some off the back and some off the top front.

When I played I don't think any mouthpiece maintained an effective form after week three or so. We would all chew on them when we are in the huddle or the sideline. After a few weeks, they were all just a gnarled, chewed up, flat piece of plastic and the trainer would have us make new ones. My Dad was the Head Coach and AD. He always had a huge box of mouth pieces in his office and would just toss the players one if they needed it.

ETA: I realize times have changed and a clear plastic mouthguard probably isn't as good, but in reality, it's maybe a 10% gain over the old cheap ones that you could buy by the dozen. Marketing "enhanced safety for kids" has to be the easiest gig in the world.