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Original poster

What do I need to know about gumshields?

45 replies

LadyMuck · 23/08/2008 10:59

Ds1 (7) apparently needs one this term. They seem to vary in price from about £4 to £60. School advises against "boil in the bag". Ds1 is currently minus several front teeth anyway. Would any rugby mums care to share their experience/wisdom?

OP posts:
SqueakyPop · 23/08/2008 20:16

Pardon the pun, but I am gobsmacked.

sarah293 · 23/08/2008 20:17

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SqueakyPop · 23/08/2008 20:18

So is a school jacket - compulsory is compulsory

sarah293 · 23/08/2008 20:22

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Original poster
LadyMuck · 23/08/2008 20:36

I'm assuming that at 7 there would be some check as to whether they had shields in (or else it is a farce).

Should I start a separate thread for how one labels a gumshield?!

OP posts:
SqueakyPop · 23/08/2008 20:37

If you get a dentist or O-pro gumshield, it has the child's name embedded in it.

mimsum · 23/08/2008 21:43

we got an o-pro one for ds last year (they come to the school the week before term starts) - he chose Aussie colours which was different from anyone else's and it had his name on it - he was fine about wearing it and it only got lost once (quickly turned up) - much more comfy than the boil-in-the-bag ones which means they're much more likely to wear it

downside is it's expensive and cos he's lost loads of baby teeth this year he's got to have a new one ..

ajandjjmum · 23/08/2008 22:01

Ds and dd need them for rugby and hockey - our own dentist makes them.

They are expensive, and after an initial check during the first match of the term, it seems to be up to the kids to ensure that they wear them. But the mum of one of dd's friends had her front teeth knocked out in hockey, which made the girls take it more seriously.

snorkle · 23/08/2008 22:55

Wearing custom fitted mouthguards is rigorously enforced at dc's school unless parents have signed to exempt their child. If it's lost or forgotten a temporary custom fitted one is made at the start of the games lesson and charged for.

o-pro have 3 types: medium, heavy and pro-impact (getting progressively more expensive). Heavy or pro-impact is recommended above a certain age and only for some sports (hockey I think rather than rugby). Pro-impact gives the same protection as heavy but is lighter like the medium. You can also pay extra for colours etc. but the clear ones are just as good (and about £10 cheaper as I recall).

For a 7yo playing rugby I think a medium would be the right choice and as already said will provide much better protection than the boil & bite ones. They leave spaces for emerging teeth, so no worries there.

Loshad · 23/08/2008 23:00

7 yo play tag, shouldn't need a gumshiled at all as it's non contact. If he/school insist then at his stage a boil in bag one will be fine, especially as you might need a new ine several times this year dur to teeth growth.

Original poster
LadyMuck · 23/08/2008 23:01

Interesting to see the different approaches between schools to wearing them. Certainly all of the paperwork and newsletters from school indicate that mouthguards and safety studs are compulsory but I guess that I'll only know what practice is later in the year.

OP posts:
lilolilmanchester · 23/08/2008 23:08

I am a rugby mum/wife.Our dentist actually recommended boil and bite variety for DS as they can be easily remoulded as the teeth change. But a dentist on here is recommending differently. So not sure how we are supposed to know what to do for the best!! I go ballistic if DS plays without his, tho not sure if the school checks before they play.

CarGirl · 23/08/2008 23:08

Does an opro gold (most expensive one I could see on the website) for £18 seem like a good buy then? I can't see the point of getting a dentist one because dd is loosing teeth so regularly at the moment?

LIZS · 24/08/2008 09:42

The opro medium weight ones being fitted at ours are £30, so £18 is a bargain !

sarah293 · 25/08/2008 10:16

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CarGirl · 25/08/2008 11:34

DD will be doing hockey and other violent sports daily from September and will be soon embarking on some costly and lengthy dental work - I'm happy to pay £18 for a mouth shield!

There were a few nasty accidents on the hockey field in my class.......one girl concussed and we were only 11 at the time!

Blandmum · 25/08/2008 11:36

DD has an opro, ds will not bite into the goo, so we get the best boil and bite that we can for him

I wish he qould have the oprp as they are better

CarGirl · 25/08/2008 11:40

bite into the goo - this sounds vile & complicated please tell me it's easy! Do I need the most expensive gold rated one or will the silver suffice. I'm worried that it will be too big for her jaw but it def says on size age 10-adult?

Blandmum · 25/08/2008 11:46

It is actually dead easy. You fill a former, with a putty like substance, and the id bite into it. you keep it hthere for a set time. The kit comes aith a DVD that shows you how to do it,. It is exceptionally easy.

But ds will not bite into the gooy stuff!

CarGirl · 25/08/2008 11:52

glad it's not me, guess I'd better get it ordered I need it for Wed 3rd - oops!

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