Should mouthguards be compulsory when playing contact sports?
January 02, 2018
For many kids, running around on the sporting field playing rugby, football or netball is a rite of passage, and for good reason! It encourages team work, a healthy attitude to exercise and most of all, it’s great fun.
However, like many things in life, without the right forethought and protection, playing sport could be quite dangerous.
It’s pretty scary to think that millions of teeth are knocked out playing sport each year. Imagine how many of them could be prevented if the players were wearing a mouthguard?
In New Zealand, mouthguards were made compulsory for rugby players in 1997. Since then, there has been a 47% reduction in rugby-related dental claims. That’s pretty compelling evidence right there.
However despite the statistics, many kids don’t wear mouthguards. An Australian Dental Association study found that just over one third (36%) of children aged 5 – 17 have a mouthguard and wear it while playing sport. Alarmingly, that drops to just 19% of children who wear a mouthguard while training
So why don’t kids wear mouthguards? We’ve got a few ideas…
Comfort
Sometimes kids report that mouthguards feel bulky and aren’t comfortable which can certainly be the case for stock mouthguards. Fortunately, Prolon mouthguards are specially designed to protect young athlete’s teeth. Our mouthguards take just 60 seconds to easily customise to your kid’s mouth. There are a variety of sizes and it has a slimline design and flexible moulding ensures your child will find the fit that’s most comfortable.
Price
This is a big one. Some mouthguards can cost up to $200 and when you have to get a new one each season, it’s a huge drain on the family budget, particularly if you have a few sports-mad kids in the family. Fortunately, Prolon mouthguards are affordable for growing families. Our range of mouthguards start at NZ$8.99.
Peer pressure
No kid wants to be the odd one out, we get that. That’s why it’s vital to get the whole team on board. Speak to your kid’s coach about getting mouthguards for the whole team. Prolon provide bulk pricing for sporting clubs, just sign up for an account and we will provide you with details of our special club pricing or contact us for more information.
Prolon is passionate about protecting all kids from dental injuries while playing competitive sport.
