Gum Shields Rathfarnham

Since the GAA Congress ruling in April 2012, there has been a mandatory requirement for gum shields for all Gaelic football matches. This move is in line with international sports such as American Football, Ice Hockey and Rugby Union.

Yes. Sports mouthguards should be worn by both adults and children.

Yes. Those who have fixed metal or ceramic braces are particularly at risk of soft tissue injury and damage. Even a small injury to the mouth can lead to lacerations on the insides of the cheeks and lips and can do serious damage to the braces themselves. The best way to prevent this is by wearing a custom made gum shield.

There are three types of gum shields available in Ireland:

• Stock gum shields are pre-formed and ready to wear. They are inexpensive but can feel cumbersome and may occasionally affect breathing or talking.
• Boil and bite gum shields are moulded in a basic way to your teeth and jaw structure. Typically, you place the gum shield into warm water, and bite as per instructions to mould. While they do satisfy the mandatory ruling of most sports clubs, the CE mark must be present on packaging to indicate that it has met certain acceptable standards.
• Custom gum shields are professionally fitted to your mouth by a dentist and offer the highest level of comfort and protection.

Replacing your gum shield is recommended each year for a growing child, as their jaw and teeth arrangement will change. For adults, replacement is needed when the guard is showing signs of wear. Bring your gum shield to your dental check-up so that your dentist can assess whether or not it needs to be replaced.