Tooronga Family Dentistry in Glen Iris

Family dental care in Glen Iris

Why wear a mouth guard while playing sport in Glen Iris?

Each year, thousands of adults and children are treated for dental injuries that could have been prevented or minimised by simply wearing a mouthguard. The Australian Dental Association strongly recommends the use of a mouthguard in any sport or activity where collision or contact is likely, during both games and training. Often injuries in sports or activities that occur, are those we didn’t even consider to be a danger. It’s always best to ‘play it safe’ and wear a mouthguard to protect your teeth.

Who Needs a Mouthguard?

Anyone who plays a sport or undertakes an activity where collision or contact to the face is a risk should wear a mouthguard. Sports such as rugby union and league, AFL, hockey and boxing are ‘no brainers’ because intentional collision, are part of the game.
However, it is sports where accidental collision occurs that are often responsible for dental trauma, such as cricket, basketball, netball, touch football, and soccer. These sports are considered ‘non-contact’ and yet they also carry a risk of accidental collision.
It does not matter if you are just during training or you are during a game, the risk is always there.

The consequences of an injury to the face.

Dental trauma from sporting injury can include damage to the tooth nerve, fractured, cracked or knocked-out teeth, a broken jaw, damage to the tongue and cut lips. Unfortunately, a single event of dental trauma can lead to a lifelong need for dental treatment in order to maintain the strength and health of the damaged tooth or teeth. Some treatments do not last forever so a damaged tooth will often need attention more than once. Prevention is always better than the cure, so play it safe and wear a mouthguard.

The best protection.

The Australian Dental Association recommends a custom-fitted mouthguard for all those who participate in contact sports or sports with high risk of dental injury. A custom-fitted mouthguard that has been designed by Tooronga Family Dantistry makes breathing and speaking a lot easier when wearing your mouthguard. You are overall a lot more comfortable than the ‘boil-and-bite’ counterparts. These are the mouthguard that you can purchase from a chemist or sports store that offer less protection as they are ill-fitted and loose in the mouth, which can be dangerous during impact or they may come out altogether.
It is important to stay safe when playing sports, don’t let an injury take away the fum from the game.

Mouthguards and Dental Checks: Essential for Glen Iris Kids Playing Winter Sports

As pre-season training kicks off for winter sports in Glen Iris, parents and caregivers are busy fitting children with new boots, helmets, and protective gear. But don’t forget—a dental check-up is just as important as new sports equipment! Kids may need a new mouthguard to protect their growing smiles.

Professor David Manton, Chair of the Australian Dental Association (ADA) Oral Health Committee, emphasizes: “Children’s teeth and jaws grow every year, just like their feet. It’s crucial to see your dentist in Glen Iris to ensure their mouthguard still fits correctly. An ill-fitting mouthguard could do more harm than good.”

Why Choose a Custom-Made Mouthguard?

The ADA strongly advises wearing a custom-fit mouthguard professionally made by your dentist. These offer superior protection for teeth and jaws compared to store-bought or ‘boil and bite’ mouthguards, which often provide little to no real safety.

‘No Mouthguard, No Play’ for Glen Iris Youth Sports

Sports Medicine Australia and the ADA have partnered to promote a “No Mouthguard, No Play” policy, which many schools and sporting clubs in Glen Iris and across Victoria are adopting.

“The most important requirement for a mouthguard is that it stays in place during impact—fit and resilience are vital for real protection,” adds Professor Manton. While some parents worry about the cost of a custom mouthguard, think long-term: repairing traumatic dental injuries is far more expensive than investing in professional protection up front.

Mouthguard Benefits

  • Properly fitted mouthguards absorb and spread the force of a blow to the face, helping prevent injuries to teeth, gums, and jaws

  • Each year, preventable dental emergencies happen because children wear the wrong type of mouthguard—or none at all

Protecting Your Child’s Teeth During Sport: Why Mouthguards Matter in Glen Iris

young boy recently fractured his front teeth when a teammate accidentally swung a cricket bat backwards. While it may sound like a freak accident, dental trauma during sport is unfortunately common. Research shows that between 13% and 39% of dental injuries occur during sports, and around 80% of those injuries involve the front teeth. Injuries to the tongue, lips, and cheeks are also frequent.

Why a Mouthguard Is Essential for Sport

Even seemingly “minor” dental injuries can lead to serious, costly, and lifelong problems. If your child plays sport—or if you enjoy high-risk activities yourself—wearing a protective mouthguard is one of the simplest and most effective ways to prevent injury.

Custom Mouthguards

A custom-fit mouthguard offers the best protection. It is comfortable, secure, and won’t fall out at the moment of impact. This gives far better protection against dental fractures and soft-tissue injuries.

Boil-and-bite Mouthguards

These can be purchased from chemists and sporting-goods stores. While cheaper, they are often bulky, may not fit well, and can cause:

  • Muscle fatigue

  • Difficulty breathing

  • TMJ (jaw joint) irritation

Whenever possible, a professionally fitted mouthguard is the safer choice.

When You Also Need a Helmet

Depending on your sport, a mouthguard alone may not be enough. Helmets are essential for activities involving speed or impact, including:

  • Bike riding

  • Skating

  • Hockey

Make sure the helmet fits correctly and is designed for the specific sport you’re playing.

What to Do if a Tooth Is Injured

If your child experiences a dental injury:

  1. Collect all fragments of the tooth.

  2. Store them in a moist environment—cold milk is ideal.

  3. Seek dental care immediately. Early assessment gives the best chance of saving the tooth and preventing long-term complications.

Need Advice or Emergency Dental Care in Glen Iris?

👉Call or book online Tooronga Family Dentistry on (03) 9822 7006 so we can help you quickly.

📍 Conveniently located for families in Glen Iris, Tooronga, Malvern and Hawthorn East