Toggle navigation
Connor Ware, DDS    Chris Planer, DDS
1011 Tunnel Road Suite #140 Asheville, NC 28805 (828) 299-4455
655 Brevard Road Asheville, NC 28806  (828) 670-9394
  • blog
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • Pinterest
  • GooglePlus

Request an Appointment

  • Home
  • About
    • Testimonials
  • Our Doctors
  • Meet the Staff
  • Office
    • Specials
  • Services
    • General Dentistry
    • Family Dentistry
    • Cosmetic Dentistry
    • Nitrous Oxide
    • Dental Implant Restorations
  • Home Care
  • New Patients
  • Contact Us
  • Appointment Request
  • Patient Education

Dr. Travis Stork: If Only I'd Worn A Mouthguard!

  • Blog Home
  • Dental+Procedures
  • Dr. Travis Stork: If Only I'd Worn A Mouthguard!

Dr. Travis Stork: If Only I'd Worn A Mouthguard!

By Asheville Family Dentistry
July 19, 2017
Category: Dental Procedures
Tags: celebrity smiles   mouthguard  
DrTravisStorkIfOnlyIdWornAMouthguard

If we could go back in time, we all probably have a few things we wish we could change. Recently, Dr. Travis Stork, emergency room physician and host of the syndicated TV show The Doctors, shared one of his do-over dreams with Dear Doctor magazine: “If I [could have] gone back and told myself as a teenager what to do, I would have worn a mouthguard, not only to protect my teeth but also to help potentially reduce risk of concussion.”

What prompted this wish? The fact that as a teenage basketball player, Stork received an elbow to the mouth that caused his two front teeth to be knocked out of place. The teeth were put back in position, but they soon became darker and began to hurt. Eventually, both were successfully restored with dental crowns. Still, it was a painful (and costly) injury — and one that could have been avoided.

You might not realize it, but when it comes to dental injuries, basketball ranks among the riskier sports. Yet it’s far from the only one. In fact, according to the American Dental Association (ADA), there are some two dozen others — including baseball, hockey, surfing and bicycling — that carry a heightened risk of dental injury. Whenever you’re playing those sports, the ADA recommends you wear a high-quality mouth guard.

Mouthguards have come a long way since they were introduced as protective equipment for boxers in the early 1900’s. Today, three different types are widely available: stock “off-the-shelf” types that come in just a few sizes; mouth-formed “boil-and-bite” types that you adapt to the general contours of your mouth; and custom-made high-quality mouthguards that are made just for you at the dental office.

Of all three types, the dentist-made mouthguards are consistently found to be the most comfortable and best-fitting, and the ones that offer your teeth the greatest protection. What’s more, recent studies suggest that custom-fabricated mouthguards can provide an additional defense against concussion — in fact, they are twice as effective as the other types. That’s why you’ll see more and more professional athletes (and plenty of amateurs as well) sporting custom-made mouthguards at games and practices.

“I would have saved myself a lot of dental heartache if I had worn a mouthguard,” noted Dr. Stork. So take his advice: Wear a mouthguard whenever you play sports — unless you’d like to meet him (or one of his medical colleagues) in a professional capacity…

If you would like more information about mouthguards, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can read more in the Dear Doctor magazine article “Athletic Mouthguards.”

0 Comment(s) Permalink

Comments:






Subscribe to our RSS Feed

Archive:

  • 2019
      • February (2)
        • Dental Amalgam Continues to be a Durable and Safe Tooth Filling
        • 3 Reasons Why Your New Dentist Needs Your Treatment Records
      • January (3)
        • In Today's NFL, Oral Hygiene Takes Center Stage
        • Dental Implants Better than Ever thanks to Ongoing Tech Advances
        • Dental Implants Could be Your Best Option to Replace Lost Teeth
  • 2018
      • December (3)
        • Manage Your Osteoporosis Medication to Avoid Jawbone Problems
        • Master Illusionist Benefits from the Magic of Orthodontics
        • Bitewing X-Rays Safely 'Reveal all' About Back Teeth to Prevent Tooth Decay
      • November (3)
        • Bonding with Composite Resins Ideal for Restoring Chipped Teeth
        • Immediate Dentures Provide You With Teeth While Your Gums Heal
        • Steely Dan Founder's Death Highlights Importance of Early Cancer Detection
      • October (3)
        • Try the Conservative Path to Jaw Pain Relief First
        • How to Keep the Cavity Monster Away this Halloween
        • Eat the Right Kind of Carbs to Protect Yourself from Gum Disease
      • September (3)
        • Singer Dua Lipa Sees the Wisdom in Postponing Tour Dates
        • A New School Year, A New Beginning
        • See Your Dentist if You're Having one of These 3 Dental Problems
      • August (3)
        • Avoid Permanent Tooth Alteration with No-Prep Veneers
        • Life Is Sometimes a Grind for Brooke Shields
        • Take Years off Your Smile by Treating Age-Related Dental Problems
      • July (3)
        • Plagued by Mysterious Mouth Ulcers?
        • Don't Take a Vacation From Oral Hygiene This Summer!
        • Expert Advice: Vivica A. Fox on Kissing and Oral health
      • June (3)
        • Limit Acidic Beverages to Protect Your Child's Tooth Enamel from Erosion
        • FAQ: Dental Care During Pregnancy
        • 3 Advantages for Improving Your Smile with Composite Resins
      • May (3)
        • Vivica's Veneers: the Making of a Hollywood Smile
        • Teenagers May Need a Temporary Tooth Replacement
        • Root Canal Awareness Week: A Time to Learn How Teeth Are Saved
      • April (4)
        • 3 Tips for Helping Your Kids Develop Great Tooth-Friendly Habits
        • Julianne Hough Shares a Video - and a Song - After Wisdom Teeth Come Out
        • Getting Dental Implants Requires Minor Surgery
        • Having Trouble Flossing? Try Using an Oral Irrigator
      • March (2)
        • Porcelain Veneers: A Less Invasive Way to Transform Your Smile
        • Actor David Ramsey Says: Don't Forget to Floss!
      • February (1)
        • Not Enough Bone Support for an Implant? Here's a Way to Rebuild It
      • January (3)
        • 4 Reasons why Quitting Chewing Tobacco is Good for Your Oral Health
        • Partial Dentures: an Affordable Alternative to More Expensive Restorations
        • Dwight Howard: A Bright NBA Star With a Smile to Match
  • 2017
      • December (2)
        • Living with HIV includes Keeping a Close Watch on Your Oral Health
        • Have a Loose Tooth? You'll Need This Two-Phase Treatment to Save It
      • November (2)
        • How to Lessen the Effects of Chronic Dry Mouth
        • Jamie Foxx Chips a Tooth - This Time by Accident!
      • October (2)
        • Help Your Kids Have a Healthier Halloween
        • The Secret to Preventing Gum Disease - Control Bacterial Plaque
      • September (3)
        • Think You Have Sleep Apnea? Find Out for Sure to Get the Right Treatment
        • Why Big Bang Theory Actress Mayim Bialik Couldn't Have Braces
        • 4 Situations Where a Crown Could Improve an Existing Tooth
      • August (2)
        • A Royal Fix
        • Regular Flossing not Your Thing? Try an Oral Irrigator
      • July (2)
        • Dr. Travis Stork: If Only I'd Worn A Mouthguard!
        • Loose Adult Teeth Require Immediate Attention and Treatment
      • June (2)
        • New Front Teeth for a Teenaged David Duchovny
        • A Mouthguard for NBA Star Isaiah Thomas
      • May (2)
        • Ariana Grande Breaks Free - of Her Wisdom Teeth
        • Use Sweetener Substitutes Wisely to Reduce Sugar in Your Diet
      • April (2)
        • Jimmy Fallon Can’t Catch a Break - Except in His Tooth
        • A Healthy Diet is Your Best Source for Vitamins and Minerals
      • March (3)
        • Even Celebrities Like Jennifer Lawrence Aren't Immune From Bad Breath!
        • Local Anesthesia is a Key Part of Pain-Free Dental Work
        • Any Time, Any Place: Cam Newton's Guide to Flossing
      • February (3)
        • Gluten Sensitivity can Lead to Dental Problems
        • Jason Derulo's Ideal Match
        • Welcome to Our Blog

Tags

  • celebrity smiles (21)
  • cosmetic dentistry (3)
  • oral health (10)
  • gluten (1)
  • oral hygiene (6)
  • local anesthesia (1)
  • bad breath (1)
  • nutrition (4)
  • porcelain veneers (3)
  • crowns (2)
  • wisdom teeth (3)
  • mouthguard (2)
  • dental implants (5)
  • loose teeth (1)
  • flossing (2)
  • bonding (3)
  • braces (3)
  • orthodontic treatment (1)
  • snoring (1)
  • sleep apnea (1)
  • gum disease (3)
  • plaque (1)
  • halloween (1)
  • chipped tooth (1)
  • mouthguards (1)
  • dry mouth (1)
  • loose tooth (1)
  • hiv (1)
  • partial denture (1)
  • oral cancer (2)
  • tobacco (1)
  • bone graft (1)
  • root canal (1)
  • tooth replacement (1)
  • veneers (1)
  • pregnancy (1)
  • dental care (1)
  • tooth erosion (1)
  • ulcers (1)
  • canker sores (1)
  • teeth grinding (1)
  • tooth decay (1)
  • jaw pain (1)
  • tmj disorders (1)
  • dentures (1)
  • chipped teeth (1)
  • x-ray (1)
  • orthodontics (1)
  • osteoporosis (1)
  • dental records (1)
  • fillings (1)

Categories:

  • None (1)
  • Dental Procedures (31)
  • Oral Health (32)

Our Location

1011 Tunnel Road Suite #140
Asheville, NC 28805
(828) 299-4455
655 Brevard Road
Asheville, NC 28806
(828) 670-9394

Map & directions

  • Home
  • About
  • Our Doctors
  • Meet the Staff
  • Offices
  • Services
  • Home Care
  • New Patients
  • Contact Us
  • Appointment Request
  • Patient Education
  • Dental Web Design Copyright © MH Sub I, LLC dba Officite
  • Disclaimer
  • Patient Privacy
  • Site Map