More Pros Are Using Mouthguards...So Should You!

When he isn't among the ten players vying for position on the basketball court, Cole Aldrich of the New York Knicks sometimes lets his dangle behind one ear. Mason Plumlee, who plays for the Brooklyn Nets, slips his snugly inside one of his socks during off times. Other players can be seen at timeouts gnawing on them nervously, or tucking them into spandex waistbands. But when the whistle blows, they go into the mouth before the players get on the court.

We're talking about protective mouthguards, of course. According to a recent story in the New York Times, only a handful of basketball players wore them regularly a few years ago. Today, more and more are wearing them, both in practice and during games. What's the reason for the change?

Partly, it's the result of better design and improved construction; today's mouthguards are more comfortable and better-fitting than ever. Part of it comes from mounting evidence that they work: Research studies have consistently demonstrated the benefits of wearing a mouthguard - not only to protect the teeth, but also to reduce the risk of concussion. And partly, it stems from the growing acceptance that safety is an important aspect of all athletic activity.

If the pros are doing it - shouldn't you be too? While you may think that only contact sports (such as football) are risky, the fact is that "non-contact" sports like baseball and basketball account for the majority of dental injuries. In fact, the American Dental Association recommends you wear a mouthguard when you participate in activities like handball, soccer, surfing and weight lifting - as well as boxing, skydiving, martial arts and "extreme sports" - whatever that may mean to you.

What's the best kind of mouthguard? It's the one that you actually wear, of course! And the most comfortable and best-fitting mouthguard is the one that's custom-made for you by your dentist. Sure, you can pick up an off-the-shelf mouthguard at a big box store; but it can't offer you the same level of protection and comfort you'll get from a mouthguard that is made from a model of your own teeth. Custom-made mouthguards from your dentist are reasonably priced - and by preventing dental trauma, they can save an untold amount of hurt... both to your body and to your pocketbook.

So take a tip from the pros: Get a custom-made mouthguard, and wear it every time you play. But when you're done playing... how about putting it away in a case?

If you would like more information about custom-made athletic mouthguards, please visit our website at www.parkfamilydental.com, or contact us here, or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can learn more by reading the Dear Doctor magazine articles "An Introduction to Sports Injuries & Dentistry" and "Athletic Mouthguards."

Neil Patrick Harris: What the Oscars Host Treasures Most

A few days before the Oscars, Vanity Fair magazine asked Academy Awards host Neil Patrick Harris to name his most treasured possession. Was it his Tony award statuette for best leading actor in a musical? His star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame? The stethoscope he wore while playing teenaged doctor Doogie Howser on TV? No, as it turns out, the 41-year-old actor's most treasured possession is... his wisdom teeth. Yes, you read that correctly. "Oddly, I still have my four wisdom teeth," Harris said. "I refuse to let them go or I'll lose my wise parts."

How odd is it for a 41-year-old to have wisdom teeth? Actually, not that odd at all. While it is true that wisdom teeth are often removed, there's no one-size-fits-all approach to this. It all depends on whether they are causing problems now, or are likely to cause problems in the future.

The trouble wisdom teeth cause is related to the fact that they are the last molars to come in, and that molars are large in size. By the time wisdom teeth appear between the ages of 17 and 21, there often is not enough room for them in the jaw. Sometimes it's because you may have inherited a jaw size that's too small for your tooth size; and generally speaking, the size of the human jaw has evolved to become smaller over time.

If room is lacking, the adjacent molar (that came in earlier) can interfere with the path of eruption - causing the wisdom tooth to come in at an odd angle. The wisdom tooth can hit up against that other tooth, possibly causing pain or damaging the adjacent tooth. This is known as "impaction." Sometimes the wisdom tooth breaks only partway through the gum tissue, leaving a space beneath the gum line that's almost impossible to clean, causing infection. A serious oral infection can jeopardize the survival of teeth, and even spread to other parts of the body.

If a wisdom tooth is impacted, will you know it? Not necessarily. A tooth can be impacted without causing pain. But we can see the position of your wisdom teeth on a dental x-ray and help you make an informed decision as to whether they should stay or go. If removal is the best course of action, rest assured that this procedure is completely routine and that your comfort and safety is our highest priority. If there is no great risk to keeping them, as Neil Patrick Harris has done, we can simply continue to monitor their condition at your regular dental checkups. It will be particularly important to make sure you are reaching those teeth with your brush and floss, and that you keep to your schedule of regular professional cleanings at the dental office. All healthy teeth are indeed worth treasuring.

If you would like more information about wisdom teeth, please visit our website at www.parkfamilydental.com, or contact us here, or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can learn more by reading the Dear Doctor magazine articles "Wisdom Teeth" and "Removing Wisdom Teeth."