A concussion is a brain injury that results from trauma sustained to the head. So one might think, if a concussion has to do with the brain, how would a mouth guard help prevent them? I thought the same thing when I first came upon the articles about it.
On January 17,2009, top neurological experts released a statement saying that there was no link between concussion prevention and mouth guards. Dr. Bill Blair, a dentist and the current president of the NHL Team Dentists Association, disagrees. Blair states; "We are just learning an awful lot about concussion right now. In fact the NHL, I would say, is at the pinnacle of knowledge that has been gained through concussion research. They have done a great deal of research over the last 10 years; they have a great deal of information." Professional athletes back up Blair's claims. Jamie Lundmark, a center for the Calgary Flames, wears a mouth guard to help prevent concussions, not because he's afraid of loosing a couple of teeth. He's quoted as saying, "I think it help concussion injuries, biting down on a mouthguard takes pressure off the jaw and the shock to the brain."
To sum it up, there are no solid facts that relate concussion prevention and wearing a mouthguard. However, most professional athletes in the NHL will admit that they aren't afraid of loosing a couple of teeth and they wear their mouth guards because of the possible connection to concussion prevention. So the next time your about to run out onto the field or skate onto the ice, remember that using a mouth guard may help you more than you think.
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