Saints players say revolutionary mouth guards helping on field

You may have heard national sports announcers talk about the Saints having special mouth guards that make them better players.

In September, the Saints were the first NFL team to be fitted for them by a Northshore dentist. And while he says talent, hard work and character produced a 12-0 season for the Saints to this point, he also believes his clinic gave them an edge.
 
"I was definitely a non-believer but it seems to be working. I guess my head doesn't hurt when I hit people. It's actually a mouth piece that you can actually breathe pretty clearly with," said Saints Safety Roman Harper.
 
"There's nothing that I don't do without my mouth piece as you can see," said defensive tackle Anthony Hargrove, from the locker room after practice.
 
It's called the 'Pure Power Mouthguard' or PPM and Mandeville Dentist Dr. James Moreau says it is based on the fact that many people's jaws don't naturally fall in the most comfortable, relaxed place where the facial, neck and shoulder muscles don't have to overwork. It's a problem that can cause severe jaw joint pain, neck problems, cracked teeth and headaches.
 
"In neuromuscular dentistry, we find a harmony between the way the muscles want the jaw joints and the jaws to function. And we find out that the neck aligns better and the muscles relax and even in some cases an air way can open some more, and the patient will have better posture and certainly not damage their teeth," said Dr. Moreau.
 
Dentists have long helped people with jaw joint problems using mouth splints. But for the PPM, Dr. Moreau uses very complex computer systems, first relaxing and moving toxins out of the muscles using 45 minutes of electrical impulses. Then, advanced technology helps him figure out where the muscles and the jaw want to fall. An impression is taken and mailed off to be custom made. He purposely sets the jaw so players can still get air through the mouth when clenched during a tackle.
 
"Half the signals to your brain come from the lower third of your face and when that is quiet, the body can then focus on other things so your strength improves," said Dr. Moreau.
 
He demonstrates how instantly, balance and strength are better with a PPM. Other dentists say they have not seen any convincing scientific evidence yet that relaxed facial muscles let your brain and body focus better on other areas of performance, but the science does find there is a benefit.
 
"There's one study out of Rutgers where they actually did the traditional bite guard verses this neuromuscular splint and they found increased athletic ability in short spurts,” said LSU Oral-Maxillofacial Surgeon Dr. Michael Block. "It enhances peak power output in explosive short duration bouts of exercise. Long term exercise endurance, it has nothing to do with in this study."
 
And explosive moves are exactly what guys do on the gridiron.
 
"See I got pretty straight teeth, you know, and this thing makes it comfortable, comfortable, I mean, I guess it's one less thing to worry about.  I'm not on the ground nearly as much as I think I was early in the season as when I got this," said Hargrove pointing to his PPM.
 
Dr. Block says he thinks the PPM may just be a way to open up the airway and better oxygenate the athlete which would help performance.
 
NBA player Shaquille O'Neal and golf player Scott McCarron both have the mouth guard.
It costs $2,000 but there are less expensive versions for high school athletes.