1962: National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) mandate Mouthguard use for football

1973: NCAA mandates mouthguard use for football


In 1990 and 1997 the NCAA enacted rules in an effort to promote (increase) mouthguard use by players in the sport of football.

  • 1990: NCAA mandates the use of "brightly colored" mouthguards by football players to enhance the ability of officials to observe player compliance.
  • 1997: In an effort to prompt more players to wear their required mouthguards, the NCAA Rules Committee voted to allow officials to interrupt the 25-second count if a player obviously does not have his in place. Once the clock is stopped, the player's team will be charged a timeout. If the team has used its three timeouts of the half, a five-yard penalty will be enforced. The player can remain in the game if he has his mouth guard with him.


2006: National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) mandates that mouthguards shall be any "readily visible color"   other than white or clear. (As of 2016 NFHS rules now allow "clear/white" mouthguards)


1993: “Abstract” of a study of the “brightly colored” mouthguard rule (School of Dental Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, PA):


  • The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) mandates the use of brightly colored, intraoral mouthguards by football players to reduce the frequency and severity of craniofacial and intraoral morbidity and mortality, and to enhance the ability of officials to observe player compliance. The purpose of this 12-question mail survey was to determine the attitudes of on-field game officials regarding current NCAA mouthguard regulations and patterns of utilization by college football players. The sample consisted of all 50 Big East Football Conference officials; a response rate of 100 percent was achieved. Only 42 percent of the officials reported observing all players in compliance, and quarterbacks were identified by others as the least compliant group (52%). The majority (88%) indicated that the 1990 rule for brightly colored mouthguards had been beneficial to them in determining player compliance, and 52 percent reported that this rule had resulted in more frequent use by these athletes.  Nearly all officials (96%) indicated that they would issue a warning for noncompliance to the player or coach, rather than charging a timeout for a violation as prescribed by NCAA regulations. The majority (70%) believes current enforcement is appropriate, but expressed the opinion that coaches should be held more accountable for player compliance.


 2014 (11/21): “Position Statement and Recommendations for Mouthguard Use in Sports” (National Federation of State High School  Associations (NFHS) Sports Medicine Advisory Committee (SMAC)

  • Prior to implementation of the NFHS mouthguard rule an athlete participating in contact sports had a better than 50% chance of sustaining a significant oral-facial injury during his or her secondary school career. Multiple studies by the American Dental Association, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, and the American Academy of Sports Dentistry convincingly show the reduction of oral-facial injuries with the use of a properly fitted mouthguard. Prior to the use of properly fitted mouthguards and facemasks, over 50% of football players’ injuries were oral-facial. They now represent less than 1% of all injuries.
  • The NFHS currently mandates the use of mouthguards in football, field hockey, ice hockey, lacrosse and wrestling (for wrestlers wearing braces). The Sports Medicine Advisory Committee (SMAC) of the NFHS recommends that athletes consider the use of a properly fitted, unaltered mouthguard for participation in any sport that has the potential for oral-facial injury from body or playing apparatus (stick, bat, ball, etc) contact. Current research does not support the theory that mouthguard use minimizes the risk or severity of concussion. The SMAC encourages further study in this important area.
  • Mouthguards should include occlusal (protecting and separating the biting surfaces) and labial (protecting the teeth and supporting structures) components covering all of the upper teeth. Mouthguards which cover the lower, rather than the upper, teeth may be used if recommended by a dentist. It is strongly recommended that mouthguards be properly fitted*  and not be altered in any manner which decreases the effective protection. Proper fit is insured by: (1) being constructed from a model made from an impression of the individual’s teeth or (2) being constructed and fitted to the individual by impressing the teeth into the mouthguard itself. Mouthguards cannot be clear and must be of any visible color other than white to allow for easier rule enforcement by officials in all sports in which their use is mandated(except wrestling).
  • A properly fitted and unaltered mouthguard has been shown to NOT impede:  communication, breathing, or create any hazards to the airway or oral cavity.*


Types of mouthguards which comply with NFHS rules and the relative advantages and disadvantages of each are listed below.


MOUTHGUARD TYPE                        ADVANTAGES                           DISADVANTAGES

Boil and Bite                                              Inexpensive Form-fitted                     Deteriorates over time
                                                                                                                               May not last entire season
                                                                                                                               Pressure on cheeks and gums if not fitted well

Custom Fit                                                  Accurate fit- comfortable                   Most expensive
                                                                                                                               Several trips to dentist may be required

*Stock / Basic                                             Easily fits over braces                       *Poor fit and easily dislodged
                                                                                                                               *Can disrupt normal breathing

                                                                                                                               *Can make intelligible speech very difficult 



It's important to know:  The majority of High Schools provide only “Stock/Basic” (lowest cost) mouthguards for football players.

Unfortunately: These stock/basic types of mouthguards are listed by the NFHS and SMAC in the “Position Statement” graph (above) as having more “disadvantages” than other “compliant” types of mouthguards listed. And based on that same Position Statement, these stock/basic types of mouthguards do not meet their own performance criteria because they: "impede communication, breathing, or create hazards to the airway or oral cavity."

Knowing this:  Parents of athletes would probably all agree that it's not in the best interest of their children's safety when High Schools provide only stock/basic types of mouthguards.

Get a Grip!

*NCAA & NFHS APPROVED

The Original Mouthguard Holder for Athletic Helmets

In accord with efforts by the NCAA and NFHS* it is our goal with GUARDGRIP to help promote and increase mouthguard use by athletes and assist officials and coaches monitoring mouthguard rule compliance. 


Since the 1990 "brightly colored" and 1997 "timeout-penalty" NCAA mouthguard rule changes were enacted, multiple surveys have been conducted using officials from various NCAA football conferences to determine if the new mouthguard rules resulted in any benefits for officials and athletes regarding mouthguard use during games. (As of 2016 NFHS rules allow "clear/white" mouthguards)


The results of these NCAA surveys (see data below) determined that the 1990 and 1997 mouthguard rule changes were both "beneficial to them in determining player compliance" and "resulted in more frequent use" of mouthguards among players. The majority of officials surveyed also "expressed the opinion that coaches should be held more accountable for player compliance."      (It can be assumed that a similar 2006 NFHS mouthguard rule change mandating "readily visible color" mouthguards for High School football would likely result in the same degree of success in increased player compliance)


Clearly the NCAA and NFHS are continuing to make every effort to monitor mouthguard rule compliance

and explore new and innovative ways to help promote and increase mouthguard use among athletes.


Based on the benefits identified by surveys of NCAA officials regarding the 1990 "brightly colored" rule mandating that mouthguards be more "visible," the combination of GUARDGRIP's transparent plastic design and distinct and highly visible placement on the side of a helmet will help officials and coaches more easily locate and see a mouthguard on a helmet when it's not in a player's mouth - assisting them in "determining player compliance" and helping promote "more frequent use" of mouthguards among players.   

In addition to assisting officials with player compliance and promoting and increasing the use of mouthguards, the unique PATENTED  gripping pocket design of GUARDGRIP will also help reduce the loss of mouthguards by providing a more secure place to hold a mouthguard when it’s not in a player’s mouth. A mouthguard properly placed in GUARDGRIP's pocket is less likely to be dislodged and lost than a mouthguard wedged in a helmet facemask, or any other part of a helmet, equipment or uniform.

By reducing the chance of players losing their mouthguards, GUARDGRIP will also help promote the investment and use of higher quality - more protective mouthguards; which is currently discouraged due to the loss problem and increased cost of high-quality mouthguards. By reducing mouthguard loss, GUARDGRIP use encourages and protects that investment for schools and parents.

GUARDGRIP's unique PATENTED flex-wing design will help prolong the useful life of a mouthguard by applying firm even pressure on the mouthguard to secure it to a helmet without altering or distorting its original shape. Conversely, a mouthguard that is wedged in the facemask or vent holes of a helmet is very likely to have its original shape altered or distorted over time to the point where it may no longer perform its designed safety function - which may also void a manufacturer’s warranty. Again, GUARDGRIP's unique design helps promote the use of high quality - more protective mouthguards. 

It's important to know: The majority of High Schools provide only “stock/basic” (lowest cost) mouthguards for football players. Unfortunately: These stock/basic types of mouthguards are listed by the NFHS and SMAC in the “Position Statement”** graph (below) as having more “disadvantages” than other “compliant” types of mouthguards listed. And based on that same Position Statement, these stock/basic types of mouthguards do not meet their own performance criteria because they can "impede communication, breathing, or create hazards to the airway or oral cavity."

Knowing this: Parents of athletes would probably all agree that it's not in the best interest of their children's safety when High Schools provide only stock/basic types of mouthguards.


*GUARDGRIP has been approved for use by the NFHS  and NCAA  for all High School and Collegiate athletics. 

**See NFHS recommendations in: “Position Statement and Recommendations for Mouthguard Use in Sports”  November 21, 2014 by National      Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) & Sports Medicine Advisory Committee (SMAC)