Special Lecture by Director Choi Jin-ho at the Jincheon National Training Center
Dr. Choi Jin-ho, Director of the Integrated Treatment Center at Minish Dental Hospital, visited the Jincheon National Training Center on the 18th to deliver a special lecture on sports dentistry to national team athletes. The lecture covered a wide range of topics, from the principles of “Force Control”—which is linked to athletic performance—to methods for dealing with facial trauma and dental injuries that may occur during competition. Dr. Choi emphasized the importance of oral health care, stating, “Good performance starts with healthy teeth.” The following are the key points.
Why do we grit our teeth at decisive moments?
When a baseball player swings a bat, when a weightlifter lifts a barbell, or when a taekwondo athlete kicks. Most athletes instinctively let out a battle cry or clench their teeth tightly at that moment. This is a physiological response known as “MVC” (Maximum Voluntary Contraction). According to research, these actions increase maximum muscle strength by about 20% and accelerate muscle response speed. The strongly contracted jaw muscles stimulate the trigeminal nerve, acting as a switch that temporarily amplifies the excitability of the brain’s motor neurons. In addition, the action of firmly locking the jaw acts as an “anchor” that stabilizes the balance from the head to the neck, making it a strategic move that boosts an athlete’s performance at the decisive moment.
The problem is that I clench my teeth even when I’m sleeping.
While intentionally clenching your teeth during exercise can be helpful, the habit of unconsciously clenching your teeth due to stress or while sleeping can cause serious damage to your temporomandibular joint and teeth. The force exerted on the teeth while chewing food is only up to 15 kg, and the maximum force that can be intentionally generated during exercise is about 80 kg. However, during sleep, the brain’s control functions are inactive, so a load of nearly twice that amount—150 kg—is transmitted directly to the teeth and temporomandibular joint, which can lead to tooth wear, cracks, and TMJ pain. If you notice sawtooth-like marks (lingual pressure marks) on the edge of your tongue or white streaks (leukoplakia) on the inner lining of your cheeks when you wake up in the morning, you should suspect that you are clenching your teeth during sleep.
Sports mouthguards and sleep appliances are different
The oral device most familiar to athletes is the sports mouthguard. While a sports mouthguard that absorbs impact is suitable for training or competition, a splint made of a hard material must be worn to address teeth grinding during sleep. This is the only way to prevent excessive development of the jaw muscles and tooth fractures. Devices made of soft materials can actually cause excessive development of the jaw muscles.
If a tooth falls out, first make sure it doesn’t dry out.
Unexpected injuries can occur during sports. If a tooth is completely knocked out, the most important thing is not to waste any time. If possible, it is best to reinsert the tooth into its original socket at the scene, as this helps preserve the adhesive cells attached to the tooth root. If reinsertion is difficult, place the tooth in cold milk or saline solution and go to the nearest dental office as quickly as possible.
When a tooth breaks, the treatment approach depends on whether the nerve is still alive. If the nerve is dead, the tooth is restored with a traditional crown following root canal treatment; however, if the nerve is still alive, the tooth can regain its original appearance in just one day through the Minish treatment, which involves applying a thin veneer while minimizing tooth removal.
A jaw fracture can directly threaten a player’s career
During intense sports activities, jawbone injuries caused by falls or blows occur frequently. The most problematic type of jaw injury is a fracture. Since the jaw cannot be cast, surgery is required, followed by approximately four weeks of immobilization using wires to secure the upper and lower jaws together—a process that can significantly disrupt an athlete’s career. Recently, there has been a sharp increase in cases of serious facial and dental injuries resulting from the use of personal mobility devices, such as electric scooters, without helmets, underscoring the importance of following safety guidelines even outside the training facility.
