Parents and local athletes are being advised to consider oral and general health safety as we approach the 2024 rugby and football seasons with data suggesting only 36 per cent of Australians wear a mouthguard when playing contact sport, and even fewer wear a mouthguard during training.
Players who don’t wear mouthguards risk sustaining serious injuries such as fractured teeth, broken jaws and serious cuts to the tongue and lips. Oral injuries to children in particular are of concerns as these injuries can affect their speech and nutrition.