Handball Mouthguards

Quick answer: a handball mouthguard must be discreet enough for you to run and communicate, while staying stable during challenges, falls and contact near the area. A boil-and-bite model is often fine to try one out; a custom-fit model makes sense once you wear it regularly or a standard model does not stay in well enough.

In this guide

1. Risks in handball
2. Court player or goalkeeper
3. Comfort at high intensity
4. Choosing your model
5. Managing a season

Why protect your mouth in handball?

Handball combines speed, jumps, shots and one-on-one challenges. An arm, the ball, a head or the floor can cause a blow to the face. The risk is not the same as in a combat sport, but it is real, especially in crowded areas and on landings. A mouthguard, or gum shield, can help prevent orofacial injuries alongside other safety measures.

It should never be used to play down an injury. A loose, displaced or broken tooth, a deep wound or pain after a blow needs a prompt professional assessment.

The needs of goalkeepers and court players

The goalkeeper can be exposed to a fast ball aimed at the face. Court players face more contact in challenges and falls. In both cases, the mouthguard must stay in place without constant clenching. A model that falls out when you speak or breathe will be hard to keep in during a match.

Your position does not automatically call for a different product. Rather, it helps you define how to test it: calls and quick movements for everyone, then the actions and situations specific to your role.

Breathing and communicating at high intensity

Handball involves repeated bursts of effort. Get used to the mouthguard gradually during the warm-up and drills without opposition. You should be able to give a short call without pushing the model back into place with your tongue. Lasting discomfort is not something you have to accept: it can be a sign of the wrong size or imprecise moulding.

No mouthguard guarantees better performance or oxygen intake. The realistic goal is a fit comfortable enough that wearing it does not disrupt your game.

Boil-and-bite or custom-fit?

A boil-and-bite mouthguard (thermoformable, moulded at home in hot water) gets you equipped quickly for the first time. Follow the time and temperature given in the instructions, then test the retention once it has cooled. If the material has thinned too much, only start again if the model is designed to be remoulded.

A custom-fit mouthguard suits frequent play, a history of dental problems or difficulty with standard mouthguards. At Proteksports, manufacturing generally takes 5–10 days after your dental impression has been approved. Order before the match season so that you can try it out.

Checks and care during the season

Inspect the mouthguard after a blow and regularly throughout the season. Look for cracks, deformation, a rough edge or loss of retention. Clean it after every use, let it dry and keep it in a ventilated case labelled with your name.

For more continuous contact, see the rugby guide. For another team sport where communication is just as important, see the basketball guide.

Fit, care and ordering

See the instructions and the comparison for the dental impression, care and choosing between the two ranges.

In handball, test how well it stays in while running, in contact and when giving calls, not just at rest.