Mouthguard Making You Gag? Causes, Fixes and Tips

Does your mouthguard make you gag? You're not the only one. Most gagging comes down to fit, length and habit, and all three can be fixed. Here is why it happens, how a custom fit helps, and simple things to try before your next session.

Why a mouthguard makes you gag

Your gag reflex is your body's way of protecting your throat. When something touches the soft tissue at the back of your mouth, such as the soft palate or the back of your tongue, it can trigger. A mouthguard sits right next to that area, so a few things make gagging more likely:

• It's too long at the back. A guard that runs too far past your back teeth can brush the soft palate every time you swallow or breathe hard.
• It's bulky. Thick, one-size guards fill your mouth and crowd your tongue. The ADA's MouthHealthy site says stock guards "can be bulky and can make breathing and talking difficult."
• It's loose. A guard that moves around keeps touching new spots, and you end up pushing it back with your tongue. If yours slips, read why a mouthguard falls out and how to fix it.
• It's new. Anything new in your mouth feels big at first. In a 2024 study of rugby players with custom-fitted guards, the feeling of nausea improved and leveled off after about a month of wear.

Why a custom fit helps

A custom mouthguard is made on a model of your own teeth, so it follows your bite instead of a generic shape. That helps with gagging in two ways. First, the guard can end at the right point at the back, rather than wherever a one-size tray happens to stop. Second, it holds onto your teeth without you clenching or pushing it with your tongue, so it stays where it was made to sit.

Every AlienGuard is pressure-formed on a model poured from your impression and finished by hand. Thickness depends on the model and sport: our combat guards are 5 mm, and NanoBite, our thinnest guard, is 4 mm. If you're choosing between them, see how thick a mouthguard should be.

Origin's Trim for Gag Reflex option

If you know you gag easily, tell us before we make your guard. When you build an Origin, our combat guard for boxing, MMA, Muay Thai, kickboxing, karate and taekwondo, you'll find Trim for Gag Reflex under Extras in the build form. Tick it and our lab knows to trim your guard with your gag reflex in mind.

Ordering a different model and worried about gagging? Email support@alienguards.com before you order and tell us what you need. For wrestling, BJJ and team sports like football, rugby, soccer, lacrosse, basketball and field hockey, NanoBite is our lowest-profile guard, and it rates best for breathing and talking on our model comparison.

Tips to stop gagging on your mouthguard

These are simple, everyday habits, not medical treatment.

• Get used to it before game day. Wear your guard for short stretches at home or in light practice first, then build up. Don't wear it for the first time on fight night or in a game.
• Breathe through your nose. Slow breaths through your nose while the guard is in help you relax and keep your tongue still.
• Keep your tongue relaxed. Try not to push or play with the guard. A custom guard should stay put on its own.
• Talk with it in. Reading out loud or calling plays for a few minutes helps your mouth adjust. More in can you breathe and talk with a mouthguard.
• Don't cut or heat it yourself. Trimming a custom guard at home can leave sharp edges, and heat can warp it out of shape. If the length is the problem, contact us instead.

Gagging while taking your impression

Some people gag more during the impression than with the finished guard. Our step-by-step impression guide keeps it short: test each tray first and pick the one that fits comfortably over all your teeth, with your lips still able to close over the front. Use only the putty the guide calls for, pressed evenly into the tray. Stand in front of a mirror, bite down fully, breathe slowly through your nose and hold still for 2 minutes 30 seconds. Then email us a photo so we can check it before you mail it back.

If your guard still makes you gag

If you've given it a few weeks and it still makes you gag, or it feels too long, email support@alienguards.com with your order number and a short description. A photo of the guard on your teeth helps. Under our refund and remake policy, if your mouthguard doesn't fit properly or you're not 100% satisfied, we'll review it and make it right, usually with a remake from your impression, or from a new impression if one is needed, at no extra charge.

When to see a dentist

Talk to your dentist if gagging comes with pain, sores or bleeding, if your gag reflex is so strong that you can't tolerate any guard, or if you have loose teeth or a dental appliance. Athletes with braces can get AlienGuards, but their dentist needs to take the impression or 3D scan instead of our at-home kit, so the braces don't get damaged. The dentist can ship it to us or email it to impressions@alienguards.com.

Ordering for a whole team or gym? Teams get 20% off every model, including NanoBite and PowerBite, with a minimum of 5. See team mouthguard orders.

Mouthguard gag reflex FAQ

Why does my mouthguard make me gag?

Usually because it's too long at the back, too bulky or loose, so it touches the soft palate or the back of your tongue. A new guard can also feel strange at first until you get used to it.

Will I stop gagging on my mouthguard over time?

Often, yes. Many athletes adjust with regular wear. In one study of rugby players with custom-fitted guards, the feeling of nausea leveled off after about a month.

Can I cut my mouthguard to stop gagging?

We don't recommend cutting a custom guard yourself. It can leave rough edges and change the fit. Contact us instead, and choose Trim for Gag Reflex when you build an Origin.

Which AlienGuard is best if I have a strong gag reflex?

For combat sports, Origin with the Trim for Gag Reflex extra. For wrestling, BJJ and team sports, NanoBite, our thinnest guard at 4 mm.