How To Mould A Gum Shield

Gum shields or mouth guards are a vital piece of equipment in hockey. Why wear a gum shield? It isn't a nice thought but there is always a risk of being hit in hockey. Hockey balls and sticks are hard and heavy and so you need to protect your teeth at all times!

Choose your gum shield

There are a range of gum shields available with a choice of colours, level of protection and size. First step is choosing your mouth guard.

Here are some examples of hockey gum shields available to you.

1. Snapfit / instant mouth guards

Perfect for junior players or to have a spare in your bag. These come in junior and senior sizes, they require no moulding and are ready to go straight out of the box. Please note these have a basic level of protection. The adidas Snapfit gum shield or the Sisu Go gum shield are great examples.

2. Basic gum shields

A good option for your first time gum shield, or for junior players where the protection level required is not as high. They’re usually less bulky than the more protective ones as often junior players struggle with gum shields that are too bulky/ big in the mouth. Great example of these are the OPRO Bronze or TK 3 gum shields.

3. High protection gum shields

The more you play and the higher level you play you should think about a top level protection gum shield. The OPRO Powerfit or the fantastic and best selling SISU gumshields. OPRO also do a gum shield for braces. 

Watch our Youtube for more help on deciding...

What you’ll need to mould your gum shield:

• A bowl/ mug of very hot (almost boiling) water.
• Your gumshield
• Something to take the gum shield out of the water once it has softened (a tea spoon always works well, although a number of the OPRO gum shields come with a fitting handle)
• A mirror is always useful!

Step by step guide on how to fit your gum shield:

1. Heat water and carefully put into a mug/ heatproof dish.

2. Place the gum shield into the water for the time specified by the manufacturer. The gumshield needs to become soft and pliable.

3. After the specified time, take the gumshield out and very carefully put into your mouth and begin to mould.

4. Bite down on the gum shield and mould. Using your fingertips, mould the material up against your teeth, starting at your back teeth and working to the front. Once you have fitted around your teeth, close your lips and suck in air to solidify the shape. It should feel snug and cover well without feeling loose. 

5. Take out and place immediately into cold water to harden properly.

6. Try the gum shield fits comfortably. If not, simply start the process again and re-mould!

Do you think you are ready to mould your gumshield? Shop now to find the right gum shield for you. Watch our Youtube for more information.