#ad · Affiliate disclosure: This guide contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Best Lacrosse Mouthguards (2026): Rules, Fit, Braces and Today's Prices
Prices updated November 2, 2026.
A mouthguard is the cheapest piece of required lacrosse gear and the one most often forgotten in the car. It's also the one with the most specific rules: in many leagues a clear or white mouthguard isn't allowed, and a referee can stop a player from taking the field without a legal one. This guide explains the rules, the main types of mouthguards, what to buy for players with braces, and every mouthguard and case in our daily price check, with prices checked October 29, 2026.
The short answer
Buy a brightly colored, boil-and-bite or pre-fit mouthguard that covers all the upper teeth, in the right size for the player's age. Good everyday choices we track: the Shock Doctor 6100 Gel Max ($15.99), Shock Doctor Gel Max Power ($20.99), SISU Aero ($19.99), and SISU 3D in adult or youth ($24.99). Players with braces should use a braces-specific guard like the Shock Doctor Braces mouthguard ($22.99, strapped or strapless) or Ultra Braces ($30.99). Buy two, because one will get lost.
What the rules say
In US boys' high school lacrosse (NFHS rules), players must wear an intraoral mouthpiece that covers all the upper teeth, and it must be a readily visible color, not clear or white. Many youth leagues that follow USA Lacrosse rules have similar requirements, and college rules require mouthpieces too. Girls' and women's lacrosse also requires mouthguards. Check your league's current rules, but a bright-colored guard that covers the upper teeth is legal almost everywhere.
Why the color rule? Officials need to be able to see that a player is wearing one. It's one of the most commonly enforced equipment rules, so don't buy a clear guard for lacrosse even if it's the one the player uses for another sport.
Boil-and-bite vs pre-fit
Boil-and-bite mouthguards are softened in hot water, then molded to the player's teeth by biting down. Most of the Shock Doctor Gel Max line works this way. They give a custom-ish fit for very little money. Follow the package instructions carefully; overheating or biting too hard ruins the fit, and you can usually remold a few times.
Pre-fit or low-profile guards like the SISU Aero and SISU 3D are thinner and designed to make breathing and talking easier. Many players prefer them because they can call out plays without taking the guard out. The Insta-Fit Youth ($15.99) and Shock Doctor Microfit ($21.99) and Microgel ($25.99) are other fit-focused options.
Custom guards made by a dentist fit best and offer the most comfort, at a much higher price. For most players, a well-fitted boil-and-bite or pre-fit guard is enough.
Mouthguards for braces
Players with braces need a guard designed for them. Regular boil-and-bite guards molded tightly around brackets can make orthodontic adjustments harder and may not fit after the next tightening. Braces guards are shaped to cover brackets and wires without being molded to them. We track the Shock Doctor Braces mouthguard in strapped and strapless versions ($22.99) and the Shock Doctor Ultra Braces ($30.99). Ask the orthodontist if they have a preference.
Tethered vs strapless
A tethered (strapped) mouthguard attaches to the helmet facemask, so it doesn't get dropped on the turf or lost between shifts. Younger players especially benefit from a tether. Older players often prefer strapless guards for comfort. The SISU Tether comes in adult and youth ($24.99), and the Shock Doctor Braces guard comes in both styles.
Flavored and lip-guard styles
Flavored guards like the Shock Doctor Gel Max Flavored ($18.99) and Gel Max Power flavors such as Warheads and Bazooka ($25.99) help younger players actually keep the guard in. Lip-guard and fang styles like the Gel Max Power Fang and Stars ($23.99) and the Trash Talker ($24.99) add a design on the outside. The Sport Pal ($34.99) and Shock Doctor Stealth ($39.99) are higher-end options. Check that any style you choose still covers all upper teeth and meets your league's color rule.
Sizing: youth vs adult
Mouthguards come in youth and adult sizes, and age ranges are printed on the package. Youth guards are generally for younger children; adult sizes typically start around the early teens, but go by fit rather than age. A guard that's too big triggers gagging and gets spit out; a guard that's too small doesn't cover the back teeth. If a youth guard covers all the upper teeth comfortably, it's the right size.
Cases and hygiene
A mouthguard that lives in the bottom of a gear bag is a germ farm. A vented case keeps it clean and helps it dry. We track the SISU case ($8.99), Shock Doctor cases ($11.99 to $12.99), and a silver USA mouthpiece case ($14.99). Rinse the guard after every use, let it dry in the case, and replace it when it's chewed through, cracked, or no longer fits snugly.
Most players should replace their mouthguard at least once a season, and growing kids and players with braces more often.
Where to save
Mouthguards are inexpensive, so the main savings is buying two at once so a lost one doesn't mean a last-minute store run. Each card below links to Lacrosse Unlimited and to an Amazon search for the same guard, where multi-packs are sometimes available.
Quick buying checklist
Before you check out, run through five questions. Is it a visible color your league allows? Does it cover all of the upper teeth? Is it the right size, youth or adult, for this player's mouth? Does the player have braces, or are braces coming soon? And would a tether help this player keep track of it? If you can answer yes to the first three and have picked the right style for the last two, you've bought a good lacrosse mouthguard.
Everyday mouthguards (10)
Boil-and-bite and pre-fit guards.
Braces mouthguards (3)
Designed to fit over brackets and wires.
Tethered mouthguards (2)
Attach to the facemask.
Flavored and style mouthguards (8)
Fun options that still meet the rules if colored.
Mouthguard cases (5)
Keep it clean and dry.
Related buying guides
Buying tips
- Choose a visible color; clear or white guards are often illegal.
- The guard must cover all upper teeth.
- Players with braces need a braces-specific guard.
- Tethered guards are harder to lose.
- Buy two and keep one in the bag.
Click any product for its full price history and a link to the retailer.