Mixed reaction to mouth guard ruling

AFTER AN otherwise restrained and prosaic GAA Congress the issue of compulsory mouth guards has emerged as one of the few contentious decisions, at least if reaction on the social network is anything to go by.

Motion 30 – proposed by Central Council – was unanimously passed, 86 votes to 14, and calls for “mouth guards to be made compulsory in football at underage from next year, 2013, and at all levels from January, 2014”.

That has prompted mixed reaction, some players suggesting that wearing the mouth guard “should be optional”, while another claimed he feels “sick when I do”.

However, the Irish Dental Association (IDA) yesterday added their backing to the decision at Congress, including a statement from Wexford-based Dr Maurice Quirke, who urged all players, parents and coaches to fully support the decision.

“Anybody who is playing contact sports without a mouth guard is being irresponsible,” he said. “It’s like going on a motorbike without a helmet. I would urge all players to protect their teeth from injury by using a gum shield immediately. Players are important role models for children so it is particularly important that they back the move.”

IDA figures indicate Ireland has one of the highest rates of sport-related oral injuries in the Europe, with one-third of all adult dental injuries being sports-related. Other sports such as rugby and hockey already have mandatory rules when it comes to wearing mouth guards, although Quirke added that ill-fitting mouth guards did put some players off.

“Pre-formed rigid mouth guards offer very little protection and are uncomfortable to wear. We wouldn’t recommend using this type. Customised gum shields offer the best protection. For children between six and 12 years old, whose teeth are constantly changing, the boil and bite type of mouth guard offers a practical and economical solution.”

While the IDA also believe the rule should also apply to hurling, GAA director general Páraic Duffy reacted to the Congress decision by suggesting it probably would require some getting used to.

“I think it’s a bit like the helmets rule a few years ago,” said Duffy. “There’ll be a little bit of resistance for a while, but that will be overcome.

“The figures show that this is for the benefit of players, that there’s absolutely no doubt this will reduce the number of serious injuries. Players will start using it on a gradual basis, and I think it will be manageable.”

Coincidentally, the Gaelic Players Association earlier this year distributed some 1,300 free mouth guards to every intercounty football squad as a way of encouraging more players to wear them with the distribution taking place over the past two months.

The initiative was part of the GPA’s Health and Wellbeing Programme for players, and according to GPA CEO Dessie Farrell, is “quite timely given rule changes and the proliferation of compelling evidence highlighting the protective benefits from wearing one”.