Gumshield for x-country- anyone?

Llewellyn

Llewellyn

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Once the jumping got above 2'9'' and horses got bigger it seemed sensible to me to wear my gumshield (i didn't do it before then because the thought never crossed my mind) I aready had for hockey and rugby for x-country. However I was very ridiculed for wearing one in the pony club and never seen anyone else wearing one, even professional riders.
There have been a number of times I have been glad of it mainly smacking my face off horses necks on the way down and not biting my tongue.
Does anyone else wear one and if not why not?

NB my xc stuff includes hat, gloves, bp with shoulders, long sleeves and gum shield so everything else seems quite well protected.

Greatful for replies :D
 
Afaik at least 1 top rider wears one. I bought one this year and intend to use it next year, as long as I can get on with it okay and it's not too distracting. never had one for hockey etc so no idea whether i'll be able to cope with it or not!
 
Lol if you've never had one practise first or you'll be dribbling like a goodun'. :D
And you may like to practise taking it out in a lady-like fashion...not easy. :o
 
Pretty sure a lot of jockeys wear them - you see them taking them out of their mouths and stuffing them up their sleeve on the way in if they have won before the photos are taken.
 
I had a nasty hunting accident some years ago where I think I bit down hard on landing and sheared off half of my teeth. It was by far the worst thing I have ever done just thinking about it now makes me feel funny, much worse than breaking a bone in my opinion (which I have done a few times) as it has cost thousands in cosmetic dentistry to put right and even now it requires regular maintenance.

I don't wear a gum shield myself but only because I lost my confidence jumping and now just concentrate on showing but I would say anyone who wears one is very sensible!!
 
I'm sure i remember in the past matt ryan using one? Not sure if he still does.......

I have never used a gumshield for anything so im a bit ignorant as regards there advantages to be honest, however it is food for thought...... one of my greatest fears riding is not breaking my leg, its getting my teeth knocked out!
 
Would you not swallow or choke on a gum shield if your fall went horribly wrong !!!! as with playing hockey and rugby, you are on the ground and not 4/7 foot high. I would wear one if there was more research about them for horse riders.
 
I got a tooth knocked out and a cracked jaw from a horse swinging his head my way....sent me flying 6ft across the grass!

....was sucking tea through a straw for days till my massive black lip went down! haha!

A good idea maybe....though I think I'd prefer one of them neck things you see some sports people wear....
 
See I thought about the choking aspect but mine is an adult one in a very small mouth (contrary to common oppinion). I can't swallow mine its too rigid to go any further into my mouth than around my teeth...hard to explain but I can't get it behind my teeth. If fitted properly it should naturally sit on your top teeth so you can still talk without it falling down and you physically have to pull it off. Also mine is black and massive so hopfully anyone coming to me will check my airways and see a huge piece of black rubber.

God only knows why no one has done any tangible equine research on it. As I'm sure everyone can see by this thread it just seems not to have occured to alot of people especially as they only cost a fiver max for a mould yourself one which are really really good. You can have them done by your dentist for £50-70 or I just took my self moulded one along and my dentist OK-ed it.

ps. having just tried :rolleyes: I can't really swallow my guard because to go to the back of my mouth it has to come off my teeth come out forward out of my mouth to turn and go back in and then its too big to get even to the point to make me gag. Had to try. :eek: :D:D:D I will now be sensible and look on internet of reports of people swallowing them :cool:
 
DragonSlayer said:
I got a tooth knocked out and a cracked jaw from a horse swinging his head my way....sent me flying 6ft across the grass!

....was sucking tea through a straw for days till my massive black lip went down! haha!

A good idea maybe....though I think I'd prefer one of them neck things you see some sports people wear....
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What neck things???? I may be being special! :confused: Picture or discription please :D

Having just looked on the net I can't find anything about swallowing them. It seems to be the firms that makes them saying they can be used for horse-riding not horse-riders but I think thats because not many people think to use them. It says it can stop fractures and dislocations of the teeth and jaw, can stop soft tissue bruising and lacerations (tongue, gums and lips) and can help lessen concussions through shock absorbtion. Also something about psycological benefits.
 
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Sounds like a really good idea. I've never worn one but will seriously think of it next season now. I did fall off out hacking, bit deep into my toungue (who else is stupid enough to stick their toungue out when falling off!) and there was blood everywhere. What made it even worse was that I was on my own but right in front of two dog walkers. Had to ask them to hold D so I could get back on :o

If you look a couple of days back you'll see that I spent Monday night in Casualty after putting a tooth clean through my own face. Not sure I could wear a gum shield to tie up haynets though...
 
Well I haven't had the chance to try cross country yet, but when I do I may consider a mouth guard now! I have quite brittle teeth and am terrified of the dentist (not to mention too poor to afford any cosmetic dentistry!).

Where abouts do you get them? I thought they were the big plastic bulky things that I see rugby players wear? I tried one for hockey when i was at school but it made me gag! But you have talked about getting ones you can mould yourself? I am getting a soft mouth guard (£70) moulded by my dentist next week due to teeth grinding and jaw problems...but don't think I should use it whilst riding.
 
Hmm, had never thought of a gum shield, I have to say, and I am pretty safety-conscious (wimpy).
Food for thought though, when I was in Pony Club I was laughed at for wearing a body protector XC...
 
Ow wellsat. I did that at school years ago tripping over....my feet. :mad:
Killed the nerves in one side of my lip so I have a (luckily not obviously) wonky smile hope you don't have any nerve damage. Full sympathy.
But I'm sure putting in a shield to tie up a haynet no one would question you just think your a bit loony :o :D
 
Llewellyn said:
Ow wellsat. I did that at school years ago tripping over....my feet. :mad:
Killed the nerves in one side of my lip so I have a (luckily not obviously) wonky smile hope you don't have any nerve damage. Full sympathy.
But I'm sure putting in a shield to tie up a haynet no one would question you just think your a bit loony :o :D
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I haven't got full sensation and use back yet but it was only Monday so not too concerned yet... Will have a really attractive permanent scar though.

The sad thing is that most of my friends would probably think it perfectly sensible for me to wear a gumshield, hat and bp at all times when on the yard. Might take a bit of explaining for new folk though:eek::D One of them actually moved a vegetable knife out of my reach tonight in case I fell over in the tackroom and managed to impale myself on it... Says it all really:o
 
TinselFaerie said:
Well I haven't had the chance to try cross country yet, but when I do I may consider a mouth guard now! I have quite brittle teeth and am terrified of the dentist (not to mention too poor to afford any cosmetic dentistry!).

Where abouts do you get them? I thought they were the big plastic bulky things that I see rugby players wear? I tried one for hockey when i was at school but it made me gag! But you have talked about getting ones you can mould yourself? I am getting a soft mouth guard (£70) moulded by my dentist next week due to teeth grinding and jaw problems...but don't think I should use it whilst riding.
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You can get them in any sports shop just check they have the safety mark. My dentist said that providing its well fitted the self moulding ones are just as good as one he would do. When you buy them buy a couple so you can have a practise one as moulding them doesn't always go right first time.
If the adult one is too big (they usually are for me) just get a junior one and with the gagging thing practise wearing it but don't think about it.
And yes they are massive sometimes especially the adult ones but they are cheap enough to buy a couple and see which ones best.
Sports direct had some for £2 not long ago.
 
good idea. how about gumshields for snow ball fights? i think my 7 yr old cud've done with one earlier. his lovely older brother aimed a good one at his face and he swung round to avoid it and almost took a bite out of a concrete wall. ouchy ouch. no damage done thankfully, but yes, gumshield for snowball fights.
 
Sorry horrid mugshots ahead! :p
See it stays on my top teeth
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Lovely with my mouth shut but not too big
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This is the differance in size between junior - blue (my husbands so no idea wha the black stuff is) and adult - black (mine)
camera278.jpg


So sorry for my face...HA :D
Hopefully you can see they are not too big once they are in and stay in place well when fitted and that juniors are significantly smaller than adult so better for small mouthed people.
 
My friend (Olympic eventer) wore a gumshield when xc - because when she was younger, she had a horse fall and her horse kicked her in the mouth, knocking out all her teeth!!
 
Hey Llewellyn,

I've just started xc and am contemplating wearing a gumshield.. Are you still wearing yours?

I've always had bad gagging issues putting anything in my mouth - a pain when i go to the dentist! haha but i really dont wanna risk loosing my teeth.
 
My daughter used to wear hers. The NHS wouldn't fix her teeth and they cost me about the same amount I spent on buying her a decent horse so she was supposed to wear her gumshield just in case - and the orthodontist insisted it was a good idea.
 
I used to ride at a very posh stables where celebrities and model where the more usual sort of client... many of them had gum shields. I didn't... and broke a tooth :-(
 
jemima_too said:
My daughter used to wear hers. The NHS wouldn't fix her teeth and they cost me about the same amount I spent on buying her a decent horse so she was supposed to wear her gumshield just in case - and the orthodontist insisted it was a good idea.
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Used to wear? Why did she stop?

I like the idea and really want to but i think people will laugh at me, and i've always had issues with gagging badly when im at the dentist etc..
 
Gucci_b said:
Would you not swallow or choke on a gum shield if your fall went horribly wrong !!!! as with playing hockey and rugby, you are on the ground and not 4/7 foot high. I would wear one if there was more research about them for horse riders.
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Thats what I would worry about.... Dont want to put anyone off using one but my exact first thought when I opened this thread was 'Would it be possible to choke on it if you took a bad fall'

But on the flip side I am terrified or smashing my teeth up - I had never thought about it until I was going through my horse and riding insurance and there was a section that covered dentistry and my teeth are covered for £5000!!!!
 
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I doubt you could choke or swallow it, they are pretty chunky. Plus i mean there's so many players in many different sports, if that was an issue it would have already occurred i would have thought?
 
alimist said:
I doubt you could choke or swallow it, they are pretty chunky. Plus i mean there's so many players in many different sports, if that was an issue it would have already occurred i would have thought?
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I suppose when you consider the hit a rugby player may take..... It must be pretty close to hitting the ground....

Having never played rugby or hockey I have never worn a gum shield and if I am honest this has given me food for thought..... Esp for competition....
 
Played rugby for years and always worn gumshield. Can't think of any time that anyone has choked on one. Consensus of opinion was that even under severe contact the gumshield reduced concussion injuries.

I Don't think I would wear one riding, but I'm only a happy hacker.

I can't imagine a properly fitted gumshield would ever cause problems other than dribbling and sounding like an idiot when you try and talk.

P
 
Also kinda silly question...

but what do you do with it between events, or when ur taking a break? Obviously you dont wanna carry the bulky case around?
 
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