Myrtia journal
Saturday football, and a mouthguard
A
AstroBaaS 
Every autumn, when school sports start again, we see a few children with a chipped or knocked front tooth. Most of them were playing football or basketball, and none of them were wearing a mouthguard.
Who needs one
Anyone playing contact sports, martial arts, hockey, or anything with a hard ball and elbows. Children with braces especially.
Shop-bought or fitted
A boil-and-bite guard from a sports shop is far better than nothing. A fitted guard, made from a scan of your teeth, is thinner, stays put and is easier to breathe and talk in, so it actually gets worn. Ours cost €90, and children who are still growing get a new one at half price.
Looking after it
Rinse it after use, keep it in its box, and bring it to check-ups so we can see it still fits.
