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Protecting the mouth
According to BBC Sport, the gum shield is the most important piece of equipment a rugby player should own. A gum shield will protect the teeth and gums; reduce damage around the jaw and dramatically decrease chances of concussion.
Every mouth is different however, so every gum shield should mould to fit perfectly around the top half of a player's mouth.Retailers should advise the consumer to visit a dentist to check the fit.
The other type of gum shield is the "boil in the bag" type, which moulds using hot water.Advise the consumer to put the warm shield in his or her mouth and to suck on it for roughly three minutes until the mould holds to the shape of the upper teeth.
A new range of self-fit mouth guards from OPRO is set to be available online and at leading retailers in the first quarter of 2007. The OPROshield range was brought to market thanks to the company's prior concerns about the fit, comfort and protection levels of non-custom fit mouth guards.
The team has created a design that involves internal fins and multiple materials which, according to research has a proven performance well ahead of other 'boil and bite' products.
Dr Anthony Lovat,OPRO's managing director told SGB UK: "Whilst the OPROshield range follows the same broad principles of other 'boil and bite' products on the market in that they first need to be submerged in hot water, this is where the similarity ends.Traditional boil and bite products are badly fitted and offer little or no protection,which is why OPRO has previously refused to enter this marketplace. It is only now that we are confident that we have the design and technology right to produce a self-fit product which we are happy to bear the OPRO name."
The OPROshield range will comprise three levels - bronze, silver and gold and is designed to provide wearer with a wider choice of low to medium cost quality mouthguards, which recognise the realities of personal budgets and perceived values.
