Mouthguards For Contact Football Codes
Rugby league, rugby union, AFL, and soccer all bring a real risk of accidental contact with elbows, knees, heads, and the ball itself. A well-fitted custom mouthguard is one of the simpler ways to reduce the risk of dental injury during play and training.
HICAPS on the day
Pre-season fittings
At a glance: Custom upper-arch guard is standard across the football codes. Junior guards need yearly refits as kids grow. Mouthguards reduce dental and soft-tissue injury — they do not prevent concussion.
Not your sport? See stick-and-ball sports, combat sports, water sports, junior sport mouthguards.
Get a custom guard before the season starts.
Or call (07) 3269 6252 · see all sports mouthguard options.
Common injuries
Common dental injuries in contact football codes
The codes look quite different on the field but tend to produce similar dental injuries off it. The most frequent are:
If a tooth has already been knocked out during a game, please follow our first-aid steps for a knocked-out tooth and head straight to a dentist. For other on-field incidents, our information on sports dental injuries covers what to do at the side of the field.
Code by code
Code-by-code notes
What we recommend across the main contact football codes.
Rugby league
Mouthguards are required at most junior levels and strongly recommended at senior club level. Heavy collisions and frequent tackles make a custom guard a sensible investment for any regular player.
Rugby union
Similar profile to league — mouthguards are mandatory in junior union and most senior club competitions. Scrum and ruck collisions add to the impact load.
AFL
Strongly recommended rather than mandated. Marking contests and accidental head clashes are the main causes of dental injury. Many AFL clubs require mouthguards during contact training.
Soccer
Lower contact rates than the rugby codes, but aerial duels and goalkeeper collisions still produce dental injuries each season. Players prone to aerial contests benefit from a guard.
Pre-season is the best time for a fitting.
Why custom
Why fit matters in football codes
A custom guard is built from layered, pressure-laminated material that absorbs and spreads impact, rather than transferring it directly through the teeth. A guard that fits snugly stays in place during a tackle or aerial contest, breathes well during a run, and does not need to be held in place by clenching. For more on how a custom guard differs from an off-the-shelf option, see our custom vs boil-and-bite comparison.
Who it suits
Who this suits
A custom mouthguard suits:
If your child plays junior football in the Sandgate, Bracken Ridge, or northern Brisbane area, our junior sport mouthguards page covers replacement timing and growth-related fit changes in more detail.
Appointment
What to expect at the appointment
Scan or impression
We use a digital scanner or a quick impression to capture the shape of your upper teeth. For some patients we will also capture the lower arch and bite.
Fabrication
The scan or impression is used to fabricate the guard from layered EVA. You can usually choose colours and add team details such as initials or numbers.
Fitting
At the fitting appointment we check that the guard sits snugly on the teeth, does not interfere with the bite, and does not lift or rotate during normal jaw movements. We make any small trims or adjustments before you head home.
Replacement check-ins
We will check the fit at your regular check-up appointments, especially for younger players whose teeth are still growing in.
Replacement timing
Replacement timing for football codes
Adult guards tend to last a full season or longer if cared for well. Junior players often need a new guard each season — and sometimes mid-season — because the bite, the eruption of new teeth, and orthodontic changes alter the fit. Hot days, hot cars, dishwashers, and chewing on the guard can all shorten its life. Our care and replacement guide covers this in more detail.
Payment
Health funds and payment
We are a HICAPS provider, so where your private health fund includes mouthguard rebates under general or preventive dental, we process the claim at the practice and you only pay the gap. The rebate amount depends on your individual policy and annual limits — your fund can confirm before the appointment.
FAQs
Football mouthguard FAQs
Are mouthguards compulsory in rugby league and rugby union?
Most junior rugby league and rugby union competitions in Australia require players to wear mouthguards, and many clubs require them in training as well. AFL strongly recommends mouthguards rather than mandating them. Soccer rarely mandates them, but they are still a sensible idea for players prone to aerial collisions. Check your club or competition rules for the current season.
My child is growing fast — will the guard still fit in three months?
Possibly not. Adult guards usually fit the same all season, but junior guards can become loose as new teeth erupt or the jaw grows. We recommend bringing the guard along to the next routine check-up so we can review the fit.
Can I get one made between training and the first round?
In most cases, yes. From scan to collection a custom guard generally takes one to two weeks. Let us know when your first match is and we will do our best to align the timeline.
Does a mouthguard prevent concussion?
Current evidence does not support claims that mouthguards prevent concussion. They are designed to reduce the risk of dental and soft-tissue injury. For head injury management, follow your sport’s concussion protocol and seek medical advice.
What if I lose a guard mid-season?
We keep your digital scan on file where possible, which means a replacement guard can usually be fabricated quickly without needing a fresh impression. Phone the practice and we will sort out timing.
Can I wear an upper-only guard or do I need upper and lower?
For most football codes, a well-fitted upper guard is the standard recommendation. Some patients prefer or require a guard on both arches — we will talk through what suits at the scan visit.
Will my child’s CDBS benefit cover a mouthguard?
The Child Dental Benefits Schedule does not typically cover custom mouthguards, but it does cover other preventive care that supports overall dental health. See our information on CDBS bulk billing for eligibility and what is included.
Related pages
Related sports mouthguard pages
For wider context: children’s dentistry, sports dental injuries.
Ready to get fitted?
If you play AFL, league, union, or touch, pre-season is the time to sort a custom guard.
Or phone Sandgate Family Dental on (07) 3269 6252.