Sydney Swans midfielder Josh Kennedy is keeping busy off the field, fronting a mouthguard awareness campaign for Shock Doctor, the leader in protective sports gear.
 
With thousands of Aussie kids embracing their winter sporting season, Josh is urging parents to protect their children from serious injury on the field.
 
Only two in five children aged five to 17-years-old wear a mouthguard during matches and just one in five during training, according to the Australian Dental Association.
 
Josh said he is surprised by this figure and urges kids to wear mouthguards during games and at training, just as their AFL heroes do.
 
"Our teeth are with us for life, so it is vital that we take care of them from a young age,” Kennedy said.
 
Kennedy said the numbers needs to change.

"There is no reason for kids not to wear mouthguards at training and during matches. Mouthguards are more comfortable and affordable than ever and when you consider the harm and expense that can be associated with an injury to the mouth, it’s definitely a worthwhile investment."

Josh will be wearing a pink Shock Doctor mouthguard for this Saturday's game against Richmond on Mother's Day weekend, in memory of his maternal grandmother who died of breast cancer.