Only 36 Percent of Australians wear a mouthguard playing sports

The latest government data suggests 19 per cent of participants experienced an injury while playing sport with collision-heavy codes such as AFL and rugby having more than double the hospitalisation rate of any other recreational sport. Despite these risks, only 36 per cent of Australians wear a mouthguard when playing contact sport, and even fewer wear a mouthguard during training.

With collisions or falls accounting for 66 per cent of sports injury hospitalisations, dentists are urging parents and amateur athletes to get their mouthguards sorted for the 2026 season to help avoid nasty injuries.

©Bite Magazine 16 March 2026