Can mouth guards really make you stronger?

Basketball, football, Lacrosse, squash, these are just a few of the many sports that require athletes to wear a mouth guard. But researchers are discovering that certain high tech mouth guards can do more than just protect your jaws and teeth. Dentists say that when people clench their teeth that releases a hormone called cortisol which impairs their ability to do certain things. When cortisol is released in males it increases testosterone levels, blood pressure and heart rate. However this new mouth guard is said to be able to improve your performance. It gives you more flexibility, more strength, and makes you less stressful. Stephen Gandel, a journalist for Times news did a series of test on himself and found out that he could do more miles on his stationary bike while wearing the specialized mouth guard than without it.

This relates to biology concepts because it has to do with hormones being released, that can interfere with our everyday activities due to people clenching their teeth. Cortisol, the hormone that is released is produced by the adrenal gland. And with this High Tech mouth guard those hormones are no longer being released and therefore boots your performance and we all need a little boost every now and then.

Mouth guards are required in all contact sports but now they can help not only to protect you but they can give you more strength, and cause less stress. Should everyone wear a mouth guard? Thats a question that varies on the individual but it does sound benifical to our health.



Source:http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2007404,00.html