Do hockey players lose a lot of teeth?
Emily Sparks
Published Jan 25, 2026
Many casual fans might assume all players are missing a few teeth — not true — but there is far more interest in keeping the originals than there was in the 1980s, a time Kings coach Darryl Sutter recalls seeing players writing their numbers on coffee cups, putting their teeth in the cups and setting them on a shelf ...
Is it common for hockey players to lose teeth?
Losing teeth is a natural part of childhood -- and sometimes adulthood, if you're a hockey player. Predators Austin Watson, Rocco Grimaldi, Craig Smith and Viktor Arvidsson know this. They've all had their teeth knocked out on the job -- and some of them off the job.
Why do hockey players lose so many teeth?
Limited Use Of Mouthguards
Therefore, there's a chance of losing teeth. Furthermore, because they are soft and rubbery, they cannot avoid every hit to the face. Because the mouthguards are not that effective, players often end up losing teeth even with them.
What percentage of hockey players lose teeth?
Oral Trauma and Injury
In reviewing the occurrence of oral trauma, we found that 31.4% of participants reported an oral injury as a result of playing ice hockey. The most common type of injury was a laceration (61.5%) followed by contusions, broken teeth and lost teeth (Figure 1).
How do most hockey players lose teeth?
For hockey players who wear only a half visor or no facial protection on their helmet, losing teeth is a possibility any time you step on the ice. Hits to the mouth can come from opponents with reckless sticks, high shots, and collisions with other players.
18 related questions foundDo all hockey players wear cups?
Hockey players wear cups, but when they slide, so does their protection, exposing their scrotums to a six-ounce piece of frozen rubber traveling at 100 mph.
How many teeth did Gretzky lose?
When he was 10, Wayne Gretzky got hit in the mouth with a hockey stick, knocking out three front teeth. “Now,” his father, Walter, told him, “you're a hockey player.” Gretzky has become the greatest hockey player ever, but he never again had such a bloody accident on the ice.
Which hockey player has lost the most teeth?
Duncan Keith lost seven teeth in all, three on the top and four on the bottom, when the puck came off Patrick Marleau's stick and hit him square in the mouth. That was with 12:30 remaining in the second period of Sunday's series-clinching win over the San Jose Sharks.
Why are hockey players allowed to fight?
Those who defend fighting in hockey say that it helps deter other types of rough play, allows teams to protect their star players, and creates a sense of solidarity among teammates. The debate over allowing fighting in ice hockey games is ongoing.
Why do NHL players not wear face masks?
The concerns about peripheral vision come from the fact that full facemasks have a chin cup, which blocks a player's view toward their feet, and the puck. That means that players have to look down to see the puck, and they're taught from the youngest ages that skating with your head down is a recipe for disaster.
Do any NHL players wear full face masks?
and around the NHL, have experienced wearing a full visor or cage in some capacity. Everyone in the NCAA is required to wear one, and all players grow up with a full shield until at least the bantam level. The full facemask usually isn't permitted in the pros unless medically necessary, as in Kuraly's case.
Why do hockey players have long hair?
According to Boston Bruins defenseman Torey Krug, the reason why many players grow their hair long is so they stand out even when their helmets are on. “We have to wear a helmet at all times,” he told ESPN.
Do NHL players wear mouth guards?
Today, mouthguards are commonly used by hockey players of all ages and skill levels. Often they are a required piece of equipment, but when they are not most players still wear one. 90% of National Hockey League (NHL) players, for example, choose to use mouthguards even though the NHL doesn't mandate them.
Why do hockey players chew on their mouth guards?
Players may chew on their mouthguard because the fit isn't quite right, which makes it uncomfortable to wear properly. Some players find that chewing on their mouth guard helps to increase focus — similar to chewing on a stick of gum.
Do hockey players wear face masks?
The league and Players' Association only two years ago mandated visors for incoming players, but there could be a day in the distant future when full facial protection like in youth, college and women's hockey, is commonplace in the NHL. "It's probably the next step," San Jose Sharks coach Peter DeBoer said.
How long can you fight in hockey?
Hockey is the only professional sport in which fighting is allowed. Though technically against the rules, two players fighting on the ice will only net those players five minutes in the penalty box rather than a lengthy suspension.
Do hockey players get fined for fighting?
Generally speaking, hockey players do not get fined for fighting during a game. While the players don't typically get fined, in the NHL if a player is assessed an instigator penalty in the last five minutes of regulation, or during overtime, the player's Coach is fined $10,000.
Why do hockey sticks need tape?
The reasons are obvious: Tape makes a stick easier to hold. Tape “softens” the blade, making it easier to corral a pass, lets the puck linger in your cagey control, or allows you to snap a precise wrister through the five-hole. Tape protects the blade, helping it survive the brunt of your cannonading slap shots.
How many teeth has Ovechkin lost?
In the video posted at sport.rian.ru () Tretiak says that Ovechkin has lost three teeth in addition to the one he lost a few years ago on the upper jaw. It happened at the end of the final game vs Czech Republic when 3 teeth were knocked out of his lower jaw.
How did Brent Burns lose teeth?
Burns, for one, lost his first tooth at 16 from a high stick to the mouth the day after getting his braces off.
Who is Brent Burns wife?
Personal life. Burns and his wife, Susan Holder, married in July 2009 and have three kids. Off the ice, Burns spends his summers in Barrie, Ontario, and Lake Elmo, Minnesota, and is a noted animal enthusiast.
Do NHL players wear elbow pads?
Youth Elbow Pads
Yes, NHL players wear elbow pads. All hockey players that skate for a sanctioned hockey league are required to wear elbow pads.
Do hockey players wear a box?
Throat and chest protectors are also recommended. Boxes and face protection are also recommended, but not compulsory protective equipment, which Hockey players can use to increase safety.
Do hockey players wear jock straps?
Jock straps are a piece of equipment used in many different sports including ice hockey. They are found on almost every hockey player and come in a few different varieties.