Gum shields

[pa___ul3]

sounds a bit daft but can you wear gum shields on your bottom teeth as opposed to top?

My front teeth are quite big so I struggle to get a gum shield that fits comfortably and was wondering if I could wear one on the bottom which may at least help with prevention of concussion.. or would it?

Is there any reason I shouldn't?

[joggerjayne]

pa_ul ... clever you !

Gum shields are to protect against concussion, not just to protect your teeth.

The answer must be yes. Anything that reduces the impact between your upper and lower jaw will make a difference, even it's on your lower teeth.

[RATTER15]

Would these help?

http://www.game-guard...ts/double-gum-shield/

[pa___ul3]

hmmm, definitely worth looking into, and for £3.50 almost certainly worth a try, cheers Ratter!

[joggerjayne]

Does it cost that much to get a dentist to make one ??

At least it would fit perfectly.

The last time I can remember wearing a gum shield was for Lacrosse.

[pa___ul3]

I've just looked, I think I can get one on my work's dental plan so I might just look down that route, if not I'm sure the dentist would know anyway.
Was just a thought because I know I need to start wearing one, been playing 3 years without and I know I'd regret it one day if I didn't start!

[annie0000]

Is it for Rugby? Surprised they let you play without - but then you are a grown man, they wont let the kids on the park even to train without one.

[joggerjayne]

annie is right. We always had to have a gum shield, or you weren't allowed to play.

But you only had to show it to the umpire before the match.

Then you could put it in your pocket.

Or give it back to the girl you'd borrowed it from to show to the umpire, LOL.

[annie0000]

Jayne how terrible....

My kids would get no screen time for a week if i caught them doing something like that.

[pa___ul3]

yeah, to be honest only our forwards and one of our centres wear them religiously, I've only had a couple of incidents where I've thought 'I could have done with a gum shield them' but I want to be wearing one when that time comes that really needed one!

[joggerjayne]

=0(

I did used to wear mine, mostly. I think I was quite an aggressive player, LOL.

Also, this was at boarding school, so it's not like you could get grounded or anything.

[joggerjayne]

What position do you play, pa_ul ?

[pa___ul3]

I'm a winger / fullback JJ, only been playing 3 years so haven't the skills to play 9 or 10 but still, even at 32, usually the quickest on the pitch so I'm useful out there.
A good mate of mine plays LAX, that sport is way more vicious than rugby, you got flailing sticks to worry about too.

[annie0000]

Good for you Paul. My OH gave up about your age after getting yet another concussion. A friend of his was urging him to take it back up again - he's just turned 50 but is pretty fit. He just laughed and said that if his 11 year old son can beat him for speed, he didn't fancy being up against a keen 18 year old!!

[joggerjayne]

I'm not sure about more vicious than rugby ... but you do come off the pitch feeling battered. I still have my old LaX sticks. They do look like weapons, LOL.

I think LaX is a very hard game to umpire. The rules are quite technical, like rugby.

So, full back ... that looks like quite a tricky position. A lot of responsibility. And when there is a high ball, your team mates turn round to watch, instead of running back to help, right?

[pa___ul3]

we've a few fellas around the 50 mark at our club and some of them still pretty useful! On boxing day we have a game Brothers vs Vets, anyone at the club with a brother at the club against a team of over 30's, we had a few of the old boys rolling out for us and they taught some of us younger ones a thing or two, their brains worked 10 times faster than my feet ever could! I'm sure he could easily get back into it!

[pa___ul3]

ha, I do JJ! Or at least I aim to every game, it doesn't feel right if you come off the picth without feeling battered!
I'm more of a cover at full back but I enjoy playing there, you get the glory of the last ditch tackles and you can pick and chose where you join in the attack and my timing's ok! I'm alright with the high balls I'm just not too good with my boot, I've only got little legs!
I've not seen my mate playing LaX but from what she tells me it's nasty! Maybe that's just scouse women though!

[annie0000]

Thanks Paul - I don't think he is for it though - think he has gotten scared in his old age ;o).

If our boys showed more of an interest I am sure he would get more involved - neither of them play anymore apart from when required for school.

[joggerjayne]

Scouse women?

Aah, well "up there" is the spiritual heartland of British LaX equipment. Hattersley's are based in ... Eccles? I think.

When I was at school, my parents bought my LaX equipment from Hattersley's. I buy my gogdaughter's equipment from LaX.

I used to enjoy the physical contact, which is less in girls' LaX than in mens', but we always used to push it as far as we could without being sent off. Let the other school know that you mean business, ha ha!

[joggerjayne]

"I buy my gogdaughter's equipment from LaX" ?

Or even ...

I buy my goddaughter's equipment from Hattersley's.

=0)

[pa___ul3]

"push it as far as we could without being sent off. Let the other school know that you mean business".. that's exactly what I mean! Bitches with sticks eh! Haha!!
One think I like about rugby is that you don't often see really malicious, snidey stuff like I did when I played football, when someone wants to hurt you they're man about it and just actually try to hurt you, in football it was a dangerous tackle that could potentially break your leg to "show you mean business". It seems in rugby there's an acceptance that we all have to go to work on Monday so we want to batter and bruise the opposition but not break any bones (the nose doesn't count in that list I don't think!).
Annie, if I could tell your boys one thing I'd tell them to get into rugby, I started at 29 and wish I'd got into it far younger, it's not just a hobby it's a lifestyle, I've got 60 odd new mates out of it who I can rely on any time and I'm there for life now. I don't eat, sleep, breathe the 'rugby culture', I can't even neck a pint, but it's great to be a part of! And boy does it make you feel butch when you've got 18 stone of bulk running at you and you pick him up and throw him on the floor! haha! My brother fancies having a go too now and my 7 year old nephew's really keen!