Gum shields

Anyone who plays rough contact sports such as rugby, hockey and boxing should use a gum shield, otherwise known as a mouth guard. They are essential in limiting the damage caused by injuries to the mouth, including the tongue, teeth, lips and soft tissues. Dental injuries are reported to be the most common type of orofacial injury sustained during participation in sports and both adults and children will benefit from wearing a gum shield as they can prevent broken teeth, loss of tooth and nerve damage.

There are three different types:

Stock mouth guards

Stock mouth guards are available at sports shops, ready to wear and pre-fabricated. The protection offered by these guards is minimal as they cannot be adjusted to fit your teeth and they can be hard to keep in place. As their fit is almost always poor, they tend to be uncomfortable and can cause problems with breathing which in turn leads to the temptation to remove them out mid-play.

Boil and bite mouth guards

These are also available at sports shops. They are standard shaped gum shields that are made of a thermoplastic material which can be softened in very hot water, placed inside the mouth and then forced to fit by biting down and pressing it to the teeth. Whilst these are slightly better than stock mouth guards, again their protection is compromised by poor fit and retention.

Custom-fitted mouth guards

These offer the best protection as they are custom made to fit your teeth exactly. They are also the most comfortable, the most durable, tasteless, odourless and the least bulky. They should not cause problems with breathing or talking and can be made in custom colours and designs.

To create a custom-fitted gum shield your dentist will first take an impression of your teeth. The dental technician will use this impression to make a model that he can mould the gum shield over when he is making it. Once the shield is made, your dentist will fit it for you and make sure it is completely comfortable.

If you have a fixed dental appliance like a brace on your teeth, your dentist will design a mouth protector to fit over this.

For more information on gum shields please contact us.