Does the Use of a Mouthguard and Jaw Clenching Affect Athletic Strength? - A Scoping Review

Taylor Minh Khanh Nguyen, Roseman University of Health Sciences
Aditya Deshpande, Roseman University of Health Sciences
Ryann Glenn, Roseman University of Health Sciences
Rusti Glenn, University of Detroit Mercy
Connor Schwartz, Roseman University of Health Sciences
John Wisniewski Dr., Roseman University of Health Sciences

Description

This review focuses specifically on strength, examining how mouthguards and jaw clenching impact maximum force in strength-centric exercises. This review aims to synthesize the literature on how different types of mouthguards and jaw-clenching techniques influence strength. The research team followed PRISMA guidelines for article extraction, initially identifying 230 records through database searches. After applying inclusion/exclusion criteria, 10 articles were included in this review. Analysis of the 10 articles (N = 20 studies) indicated that different mouthguard and clenching conditions influenced strength outcomes. For upper body strength (N = 13 studies), four studies showed a significantly positive effect from mouthguard use compared to clenching and habitual jaw position, while six studies reported a positive but non-significant effect. Regarding lower body strength (N = 7 studies), five studies indicated a significantly positive effect. The data revealed that, when biting or clenching, custom-made mouthguards were more effective in enhancing strength compared to over-the-counter options. Athletes, when biting or clenching, while wearing a custom-made mouthguard, can potentially enhance upper body as well as lower body strength performance.

 

Does the Use of a Mouthguard and Jaw Clenching Affect Athletic Strength? - A Scoping Review

This review focuses specifically on strength, examining how mouthguards and jaw clenching impact maximum force in strength-centric exercises. This review aims to synthesize the literature on how different types of mouthguards and jaw-clenching techniques influence strength. The research team followed PRISMA guidelines for article extraction, initially identifying 230 records through database searches. After applying inclusion/exclusion criteria, 10 articles were included in this review. Analysis of the 10 articles (N = 20 studies) indicated that different mouthguard and clenching conditions influenced strength outcomes. For upper body strength (N = 13 studies), four studies showed a significantly positive effect from mouthguard use compared to clenching and habitual jaw position, while six studies reported a positive but non-significant effect. Regarding lower body strength (N = 7 studies), five studies indicated a significantly positive effect. The data revealed that, when biting or clenching, custom-made mouthguards were more effective in enhancing strength compared to over-the-counter options. Athletes, when biting or clenching, while wearing a custom-made mouthguard, can potentially enhance upper body as well as lower body strength performance.