SOMETHING TO SMILE ABOUT - Mouth guards can do more than just keep your teeth intact

  • Published
  • By Brian McGloin
  • 502nd Air Base Wing OL-B Public Affairs
RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  When a technical sergeant in San Antonio lost three of his front teeth to an elbow from an opponent in a pick-up basketball game, he learned a valuable lesson: If an apple a day keeps the doctor away, then a mouth guard can keep broken teeth at bay.

Mouth protectors do more than prevent busted teeth; they can even reduce the chances of a concussion, according Dr. (Maj.) Daniel Palazzolo, chief of periodontics, 359th Dental Squadron.

"Mouth guards work by absorbing the shock of a direct impact and collision and spreading the force over the entire mouth or jaw," Palazzolo said.

According to the American Dental Association's Web site, "Anyone who participates in a sport that carries a significant risk of injury should wear a mouth protector. This includes a wide range of sports like football, hockey, basketball, baseball, gymnastics and volleyball."

Palazzolo added that Airmen, in particular, should have mouth guards on hand because the Air Force's stringent physical training requirements mean more Airmen participate in activities that put them at injury risk.

"Accidents can happen during any physical activity," the ADA warns. "A misdirected elbow in a one-on-one basketball game or a spill off a bicycle can leave you with chipped or broken teeth, nerve damage or even tooth loss. A mouth protector can limit the risk of such injuries as well as protect the soft tissues of your tongue, lips and cheek lining."