Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

Gumshield numpty, help required

37 replies

Flangey · 16/04/2018 18:24

A gumshield is listed on the Y7 PE uniform for DD. I see you can buy cheap ones or expensive bespoke ones. The school do not have a company come in to do fittings, which I gather some schools do. DD will not be playing hockey or rugby out of school. What should I look for?

OP posts:
AveEldon · 16/04/2018 21:37

The thing is they need a new one each year (or more often if they lose the thing) - £50 is a lot of £

The Opro ones also come with some dental cover

Rudi44 · 16/04/2018 21:32

Yes we have a custom made one, it was under £50 and comes with dental insurance in the event her teeth are damaged whilst wearing it.

Original poster
Flangey · 16/04/2018 20:54

The advice from school was to "get the soft ones, not the hard ones". Does that make sense? Custom-fitted from the dentist sounds potentially expensive, surely they don't all do them for free? DD will not be playing contact rugby, or any rugby to start with, but will do hockey (but only because they have to).

OP posts:
RomaineCalm · 16/04/2018 20:29

I would get a custom-fitted one if you can. Some may also have a dental warranty. It's definitely worth asking your dentist for advice.

I have seen a lot of children with badly fitted 'boil and bite' ones and they seem to spend a lot of time either chewing them or taking them in and out. They should fit and stay in!

There seems to be some debate around whether wearing a mouth guard can prevent concussion. Again, worth having a Google.

meala · 16/04/2018 20:04

I would recommend sisu mouthguards. They are designed to give an excellent tight fit. They won't fall out. You can still talk as normal and drink easily. Moulding is easy and you can remould as often as you like until the fit is correct. My son won't wear anything else now and he plays rugby and ice hockey.
sisuguard.eu/shop-all/

Northumberlandlass · 16/04/2018 19:59

Our dentist is a rugby coach & does gum sheilds for free!!

I’ve tried a few cheap ones - they didn’t fit well at all

Malbecfan · 16/04/2018 19:58

Our dentist made them for the DDs. They were able to chose the design and as their teeth changed (braces, adult teeth etc), he was able to adapt them for free.

Tid13 · 16/04/2018 19:04

Mouthguard preventing concussion? Concussion in the teeth?

Like someone else said, boil and bite Oppro or shock doctor will do fine.

Situp · 16/04/2018 18:49

Bespoke ones are better for prevent concussion, especially in rugby.

Your dentist should be able to do one for you.

AveEldon · 16/04/2018 18:47

I buy opro ones on amazon - check which size you need - they are about £13

Then watch the you tube video on how to fit them

I recommend running through the steps with your child skipping the water bit but doing the bite and suck section so they have an idea what you are going to do
Original poster
Flangey · 16/04/2018 18:46

Thanks, she is definitely not adult sized!

OP posts:
Mumski45 · 16/04/2018 18:37

Look up shock doctor and opro gum shields on amazon. They are not very expensive and you for them by putting them in boiling water for a minute or two then biting into them. Make sure you get the right size tho as adult ones might be too big.