The Irish Dental Association (IDA) has welcomed the decision by the GAA to make it mandatory for players to wear a mouth guard during training and matches. Well at least someone is happy.
There has been quite a bit of criticism surrounding the GAA’s ruling for making mouth guards mandatory for all players as of late, mostly from the players themselves. However Dr Maurice Quirke of the Irish Dental Association has come out to urge all players, parents and coaches to support it fully.
“Anybody who is playing contact sports without a mouth guard is being irresponsible. 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,” Dr Quirke said.
According to the IDA, Ireland has one of the highest rates of sport-related mouth and dental injuries in the EU, so maybe it’s a good idea to make them mandatory in GAA after all?
However, players across the country are venting their anger at the decision claiming that they’ll affect the player’s performance on the pitch, while some players claim that they’ll have to ‘learn’ how to play with the guard in – which takes time.
The decision has been made mandatory for juvenile players up to minor from the start of next year, while senior players have until 2014 to get used to the mouth guard rule.
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