Do your children use a gum shield?

Yes, hockey and rugby are the reasons I'm trying to mould ones this morning ... Eldest started doing hockey club quite early and we've used one of the self-fit opros from the start. Her school does arrange the full-fit ones but no way am I paying for that until all her teeth are through. My son's just going into year 3, he's young in the year and his teeth are "slow" in that he hasn't even lost his top front teeth yet. His school have said that we have to sign something if we don't get the fitted opro ones! But again, I think the self-fit ones make more sense, then we can refit them every few months or more often if need be.

I went for the opro shields in the first place because I liked the look of the fins etc, having had basic boil and bite ones for hockey as a teenager myself.

I'm hoping things won't be too rough for my youngest this term - they've done tag rugby for a couple of years already and not required mouthguards till this year; I would have thought that they should still be doing tag rugby till they're older. But I think they also start hockey with them this year a little bit so definitely mouthguards for that!

English hockey association say hockey should never be played without a gum shield. So if they are playing any hockey at all they all should have one.

Gumshields are obligatory at my son's secondary for rugby and hockey.
We got a Shock Doctor gel max this time and found it easier to fit than usual so worth spending the couple of extra pounds. it was £11 at sports direct I think.

It's on the kit list, so I bought one. I don't think it gets used.

Mind you I don't thing the lower PE group do a great deal of serious PE if they can help it.

Opro for ds, who is very into rugby and accident prone.I understand they hello protect against confusion a elk a dental injury. He would certainly have list teeth in a hockey ball to the face incident that rendered his lips so swollen that even drinking with a straw I'm the side of his mouth wad difficult for a couple of days, and he looked like a duck for over a week!

Dd2 has the most expensive boil and bite-also opro brand-she does low level hockey.

They are needed for rugby and hockey.

We usually just get boil and bite. The one time I got one fitted by the dentist, DS lost it on its first outing. They never seem to lose the cheap ones.

If your child has braces, the orthodontist can provide a gum shield, as can OPRO.

Both use them for hockey, son also for rugby

Just asked dh. At his school they are compulsory for rugby and hockey. Kids aren't allowed to play without them.

Will your dd1 be playing these sports? If not i wouldn't bother as the risk of mouth damage is low from other sports .

My DSS8 has a boil and bite for out of school rugby. Last week he didn't wear it and chipped his front bottom tooth. Lesson learned!!

Dentist said not to bother with fully fitted till all teeth are through, boil and bite is fine for now. I find it a faff to fit but he has to have it (especially now his rugby coach is using his chipped tooth as an example to the other kids that they must wear theirs!).

My son has an opro one fitted every year. Yes they are expensive but come with ID moulded in. I justify it by thinking what a pain it would be if dc had dental injury( time consuming and expensive also opro will adjust if necessary.( this happened to us & they sent a boil one gratis while waiting)

Rugby and hockey. Have always used the ones you fit yourself. You can get them to cover braces too. Daughter had one a few years ago. My son plays rugby at least 3 times a week and I usually end up getting two for the season as it's quite disgusting by christmas.

DS1's school says that they are compulsory for anybody who plays on a team but not for anybody else. They can wear them but DS didn't for the whole of last year, even though I bought one, and was not told off.

They are probably a good idea as DH lost his 4 front bottom teeth playing rugby at 13 and has had to have a bridge every since which has to be fitted at a dental school because it is so unusual - if there is a problem with it it is a real faff. Can't imagine DS getting quite so stuck in as he terrible at sport (dyspraxic) and would shy away from any contact. I may try to persuade him again to give them a go.

Saracen - I meant their problem to fit it. According to their web site they can do something to accommodate growing teeth.

mermaid - oh dear. Good advice to check pockets!

IIRC, the fitted Opro ones leave gaps for missing teeth to grow into.

My DS's both had fitted ones for rugby. They aren't even allowed to train without them in.

Please note.....a hot wash will destroy them. Even if they are brand new and worn once.....sigh. DO check pockets of shorts....

"she is having a vvv expensive fitted one from opro at school because she has a big gap where her two top front teeth are missing and just starting to come through. I don't feel confident fitting one properly like this, and what happens as the teeth grow through?? Opro's problem in this case."

Is it? I didn't think Opro provided extra fittings / replacements / updates as part of their service. Won't you have to shell out again for a new one soon?

Dd going into year 10 started playing rugby this year and we bought her a gum shield for that.
However she got braces today, so not sure what to do about gum shield now.

ds has boil-and-bite for hockey and rugby, from year 4 onwards.

dd is about to start y3 and needs one for hockey, but she is having a vvv expensive fitted one from opro at school because she has a big gap where her two top front teeth are missing and just starting to come through. I don't feel confident fitting one properly like this, and what happens as the teeth grow through?? Opro's problem in this case.

Just checked and dd's school shop sold us a Shock Doctor Gel Max (£15 ish) but you can preorder an Opro fitting (min £35-40) . Are they easy to remould and is there a limited to the number of times (dd has just lost a molar so the others may well follow and new ones appear during the season). We've had Opro before but they don't seem good value unless child plays several times a week.

Interesting about the boil ones - think I may raise this with school.

Totally agree with Jolly. I played hockey a few years ago and was shouldered in the face by another player I had no gum shield and I bit through my tongue. Not a pleasant sight and preventable had a been wearing a gum shield. So they do protect more than just teeth.
My DD still plays hockey (I have retired!) and uses a boil in the bag one but the Shock Doctor make. They are more expensive than the £2.95 one discussed about but possibly have more protection.

I've played a lot of hockey. I've seen a LOT of injuries - a few broken noses and numerous teeth being knocked out, as well as the usual bruises to legs. I would definitely recommend a mouth guard. And if she gets involved in a team playing games and is a defender she'll need a face mask for the short corners. And shin pads are 100% required, especially with less experienced players who may accidentally lift the ball or hit someone with their stick.

DSs have to have them for rugby & hockey. like Edit's they have boil-and-bite ones as their orthodontist virtually made me sign in blood to say I wouldn't get them one of the fitted ones until they were both fully grown. He is utterly appalled that the fully fitted ones are used for children whose teeth are still moving. In fact, he went so far as to say the company making them should be sued but I think that may be OTT!!