Hockey players are well-known for their tough lifestyles and extreme diets. Many of them skip meals and go without sleep to maintain their physical appearance for the sport. Because of this, they are at risk of developing some serious dental problems. Luckily, there are ways you can reduce this risk – both while you are playing and after your career is over. One of the simplest and most effective methods is to simply chew on your mouth guard. Why do hockey players chew on their mouth guards? Find out here.
Table of Contents
Maintain Good Dental Hygiene
It’s well-established that hockey players are among the least likely to visit the dentist. They skip out on routine cleanings and only go when they are experiencing extreme pain or there is actually something wrong. Even when they are in need of dental work, they often opt for cheaper and less efficient ways of fixing their teeth. All of this can lead to severe dental problems down the line. To ensure they do not end up suffering from any serious dental issues, they need to start practicing good dental hygiene and cleanings on a regular basis.
Keeping their teeth healthy is obviously a huge priority for hockey players. Unfortunately, they also put their health in other areas of their bodies in order to improve their chance of winning. This means they are prone to overuse injuries and repeated surgeries. By regularly cleaning their teeth and avoiding the use of tobacco and excessive alcohol, they can significantly reduce the risk of developing serious dental problems. In addition to this, they can also help protect the environment by reducing the amount of trash generated by opting for reusable items and brushing their teeth after every meal.
Keep Their Skinsightly
As we’ve established, hockey players are very susceptible to developing dental issues. One of the primary causes of this is that they lack hygiene and rely on cheap and easy options for dental surgery and treatment. When they do finally seek help with their dental problems, it is usually because they have suffered from extreme wear and tear, or a nerve has been damaged. In either case, it is usually a result of overuse and poor nutrition, not poor oral hygiene.
Hockey players need to be aware of this and maintain good dental hygiene on a daily basis. This way, they will be better positioned to avoid repeated dental surgeries and infections. In addition to this, it will also help to protect their teeth and gums from more serious damage. If you are concerned about your dental health and the impact that it is having on your play, it may be time to switch to a more hygienic form of basketball.
Protect Their Tongues
Another area of the body that hockey players need to be extra careful with is their tongues. Just like their teeth, their tongues are also very susceptible to dental problems. This is mainly because they don’t floss or brush their tongues on a regular basis. The more they neglect this area of their bodies, the greater the chance of them developing cavities and infection. In addition to this, if they do develop dental infections, it will be much more difficult to treat them.
Hockey players need to be careful with their tongues just like they are with their teeth. The best thing they can do is visit the dentist regularly for cleanings and preventative care. In addition to this, they should also be sure to brush their tongues on a daily basis and avoid foods that will cause cavities or damage to their teeth. The worst thing they can do is drink alcohol or use tobacco, which will only make matters worse.
Reduce The Number Of Surgeries
There is also the issue of repeated surgeries and hospital stays. These are often required to treat injuries sustained during gameplay or training. While much better and safer than older methods of treating sports injuries, modern medicine has not escaped the clutches of the NHL either. If a player cuts his finger on the ice, he’ll most likely need a few stitches. Afterward, he’ll have to take some time off, which is not ideal for a league that is already notoriously short-handed.
Injury-induced hospital stays are nothing new to the NHL. Back in the day, players had to stay in the locker room for a couple of days to recover. These days, though, players can heal up, get some rest, and return to the ice in just a few hours. The difference is that back then, there was no option but to play through the pain. Nowadays, there is a better solution – just chew on some gum or stick a knitting needle in your mouth to distract yourself from the discomfort.
Even when they are not playing, hockey players need to be careful about what they eat and how they take care of their bodies. They are always looking for easier ways to enhance their performance, so it is important that they do not end up making things more complicated. For instance, they should try and avoid protein shakes, which are often loaded with sugar. This can quickly lead to weight gain and health complications. Instead, they should opt for a snack that is high in fiber, such as an apple or a handful of almonds. These snacks will not only help maintain their physical appearance, but they will also provide necessary nutrients for their bodies to function at their best.
It is also important that they take care of their teeth and gums. This means they should brush their teeth and use a fluoridated toothpaste daily. In addition, they should visit the dentist regularly for cleanings and checkups. As we mentioned, there are many ways they can harm their teeth without even knowing it. Poor oral hygiene, for example, can quickly lead to tooth decay and infections. What is more, many sugar-free options are out there, but they do not offer the same taste as their counterparts loaded with sugar. This can make a big difference in their overall wellbeing and how they feel after consuming these foods.
Help Protect The Environment
Finally, we need to point out that hockey players are harming the environment by opting for disposable items and single-use plastic. It takes thousands of years for our planet to recover from the damage done by humans – mainly through irresponsible economic and leisure activities. There are many options available to the average hockey player to reduce their impact on the environment. They can, for example, buy reusable ice picks or reusable plastic bags to bring their frozen goods in. They can also opt for paper or cardboard boxes instead of plastic ones.
Hockey players are well-known for their tough lifestyles and extreme diets. Many of them skip meals and go without sleep to maintain their physical appearance for the sport. Because of this, they are at risk of developing some serious dental problems. Luckily, there are ways you can reduce this risk – both while you are playing and after your career is over. One of the simplest and most effective methods is to simply chew on your mouth guard. Why do hockey players chew on their mouth guards? Find out here.