Throughout the years, hockey has become more and more popular globally, with the world’s biggest sport hues attracting huge followings and making the sport popular among people of all ages. But what happens when you have a game that’s so popular that it ends up changing the life of the people who play it? As it turns out, not all of them are lucky enough to have perfectly aligned teeth.
The NHL (National Hockey League, the premier professional hockey league in the world) has revealed some pretty interesting stats regarding the health of its players. The league has acknowledged that there’s been a significant uptick in the number of players missing teeth, with a whopping 40% of the players in the NHL experiencing tooth loss. While the league attributes this to better oral hygiene that can be encouraged among players through education and proper care, the increase in violent puck play and head shots that have become commonplace over the years can also be blamed for the decrease in the number of natural teeth among the younger generations of hockey players.
The Problem With Tooth Loss
In general, missing teeth among the population is a huge problem, as it can lead to a whole host of oral health issues. According to the American Dental Association, tooth loss can increase your risk of:
- Dry mouth
- Bad breath
- Food stagnation due to lack of chewing ability
- Infections
- Nutrient deficiencies
- Bone loss
- Facial scarring
What’s more is that the American Dental Association has noted that there’s been an increase in the number of people who are hiding their missing teeth, rather than revealing them proudly. While this may seem like a good idea at first, it certainly isn’t promoting optimal oral health.
Why Are So Many Hockey Players Missing Teeth?
Many reasons could explain why so many hockey players are missing teeth. The most obvious one is that the sport itself is pretty rough, and it requires a lot of head banging and puck bitting. This, in turn, can lead to a lot of wear and tear on the mouth, which in turn, can lead to tooth loss. In the same way that baseball players lose their teeth due to hitting the ball hard, hockey players may lose their teeth because of all the banging and head-butting they do during games.
So, while the increase in the number of natural teeth among the general population is seen as a positive trend, this shouldn’t be celebrated among hockey players as it puts them at an increased risk of serious oral health problems later in life. Instead, it’s time for the hockey community to acknowledge the issue and find a way to prevent tooth loss among its players.
Preventing Tooth Loss
Just like with most things in life, there’s always a way to prevent tooth loss. Just like with most things in life, there’s always a way to prevent tooth loss. For hockey players, this can mean keeping their teeth by taking care of them and making sure they don’t fall out. While this may seem simple, it’s actually quite the contrary: making sure your teeth stay in is actually quite the complex matter, as there are numerous factors that can lead to their loss. Here are some of the things you should be doing to prevent tooth loss:
Eat Healthy Foods
One of the most basic and proven ways to keep your teeth is to make sure you’re eating healthy foods. This means eating foods that are good for your teeth, like berries, dark leafy greens, and beans. You should also be avoiding foods that are bad for your teeth, like chocolate, red meat, and sugar. Of course, too much of anything can be bad for you, so you should be making sure you’re not overindulging in any of these foods.
There are also some other things you can be doing. You can check out our tips on how to brush your teeth correctly to ensure they stay healthy and vibrant. Another thing you can be doing is visiting the dentist regularly for cleanings and inspections. By doing this, you’re making sure any problems with your teeth are caught early on, before they become severe.
Don’t Smoke
Another way to prevent tooth loss is to avoid tobacco and cannabis. Although these aren’t necessarily bad for your teeth, they both have a tendency to stain them and make them weaker. If you’re not actively trying to quit smoking, you should be avoiding tobacco and cannabis, as they aren’t good for your overall health, and they aren’t good for your teeth either.
It’s also important to brush your teeth after every meal and snack, as this helps remove any food particles that may have settled on your teeth after eating. This, in turn, helps ensure your teeth remain healthy and clean for the remainder of your life.
Practice Good Oral Hygiene
Like most things in life, good oral hygiene is the key to keeping your teeth. This means brushing and flossing them regularly and occasionally seeing your dentist for cleaning. If you want to prevent tooth loss, you should be practicing good oral hygiene every day, as this will help keep your teeth for years to come. You should be focusing on both sides of the mouth, as well as the tongue, which is the part of the mouth that you eat with. It’s also important to remember that if you notice any decay on the teeth, it needs to be fixed promptly.
See A Dentist Regularly
Another way to prevent tooth loss is to see a dentist regularly for cleaning and inspection. Just like when you visit the doctor, you’ll need to see the dentist at least once a year for a cleaning. Additionally, some dentists will inspect the teeth for wear and tear, as well as give advice on how to prevent further damage. By doing this, you’re making sure any problems with your teeth are caught early on, before they become severe.
Keeping your teeth healthy is important for your overall well-being, as well as the look of your life. As it turns out, not all hockey players are born with perfect teeth. A lot of them end up losing teeth due to the rough nature of the sport. While this may be discouraging for the community, it’s important to remember that there’s always a way to prevent tooth loss. Just like with most things in life, there’s always a way to prevent tooth loss. For now, it’s time for the hockey community to come together and try and find a way to prevent this issue from getting any worse.