Animal feces not all that's in NFL players' mouthguards (2024)

Animal feces not all that's in NFL players' mouthguards (1)
  • Mouthpieces can pick up variety of microbes
  • Players store, clean mouthguards in a variety of ways
  • Equipment not only protects teeth but can defend against concussions

It's the dirty little secret — emphasis on dirty — that everyone knows.

Antoine Bethea's earnest face folded in trepidation and disdain. The Indianapolis Colts Pro Bowl safety wanted to see the list. He was afraid to see the list.

"It's nasty, isn't it?" he inquired uncomfortably. "I thought about that when I first started playing. I've thought about that a million times. You just hope it's nothing too bad."

Bethea was handed the list. He read silently until he reached line 5. He looked up, expression stricken.

"Animal feces," he said. "That's disgusting. That's disgusting. That's crazy, man."

Crazy but true. Athletic mouthguards are a crucial football equipment item. They protect teeth, tongues and lips. They act as shock absorbers to prevent concussions. And they are a rich delivery system for a range of bacteria, fungi and yeasts associated with a wide variety of diseases and infections.

Mouthguards are exposed, through handling, to whatever elements are found on football fields. It's a scary lot. Studies have found blood, sputum, mouth discharges (tobacco products), chemicals, animal feces and other players' DNA on players' hands, gloves, helmets, uniforms, shoes, socks and equipment.

"Whoa," said practice squad quarterback Chandler Harnish.

"Ugh," winced wide receiver Donnie Avery.

"Blood?" recoiled defensive end Cory Redding. "Hope it's mine."

"Awesome," laughed tackle Anthony Castonzo, who never removes his mouthguard during practice or games. "Good to know."

The fact is mouthguard handling, storage and cleaning are less than afterthoughts for most. The exposure and risks are largely unknown to or ignored by players.

"I think there are bigger things out there for people to worry about than getting some germs on your mouthpiece," Harnish said. "When you're getting in car crashes every play, the last thing on your mind is your mouthpiece."

That attitude is longstanding and prevalent but there are reasons for reassessment.

Dirt, skan* and disease

Richard T. Glass, professor of forensic sciences, pathology and dental medicine at Oklahoma State University, has studied mouthguards extensively. He collaborated on a study that found microbial contamination of mouthguards by bacteria, yeasts and molds associated with heart disease, pneumonia, meningitis and infections of the skin, mouth, gum, bone and urinary and gastro-intestinal tracts.

The unpleasant and self-evident truth is this: if a player removes and reinserts his mouthguard, he might as well be sticking his fingers or gloves in his mouth.

Almost all the Colts queried remove their mouthguards during practices and games, some between plays, some only between series. They store them almost everywhere.

Redding, Harnish, Avery, outside linebacker Robert Mathis and quarterback Andrew Luck do what's most common. They stick theirs in their facemasks. Bethea and linebacker Mario Harvey stash them in their socks. Linebacker Pat Angerer and center Samson Satele hold them in their hands. Linebacker Kavell Conner sets his on the bench. Wide receiver LaVon Brazill sticks his in his skull cap.

"You see guys stick it in their waistband, put it behind their ear," Harvey said.

None of those perches are ideal but they are hardly the worst of it.

"Drop it in the dirt, I don't even think twice to wipe it off," Redding said. "Put it my mouth, minerals and all, and keep rolling."

Ditto Angerer.

"Sometimes you drop it, pop it back in your mouth and think, 'Man, that wasn't right, you know?'." Angerer said. "Nothing you can do about it. That's football."

Home remedies abound.

Redding soaks his mouthguard in Listerine before practices and games. The problem with that is, the alcohol in the mouthwash breaks down the plastic in the mouthguard.

Mathis sprays his with water, once a week or so, but that's intermittent and water is ineffective against most contaminants.

"When I'm on the sideline drinking Gatorade, I put mine in my cup and get some Gatorade action going," Brazill said hopefully.

Of course you're drinking your cleaning solution his interrogator pointed out.

The realization registered. Brazill's face fell. He laughed. What are you going to do?

Quit the "Gatorade action" for one. The sugar in the sports drink can render a mouthguard an even more fertile germ-breeder.

There is a better way

Glass' study determined that "microbial load" can be reduced by soaking a mouthguard in an antimicrobial solution between uses. He suggests replacing the mouthguard every two weeks.

The solution is readily available if seldom accessed. Colts head athletic trainer Dave Hammer said Defense Sport Mouthguard Rinse from SaniBrands, Inc., is available in the locker and training rooms.

Most Colts said they knew nothing of it. Forewarned is forearmed.

SaniBrands says it supplies all 32 NFL teams, some NBA, WNBA, NHL clubs and dozens of colleges and high schools across the country with its product.

"When I tell the story of dirty mouthguards to parents, their eyes glaze over," said Al DolceAmore, SaniBrands president. "You can see the wheels turning in their minds. You can tell they're seeing their kid's mouthguard sitting in the cup holder of the minivan or under the seat in the Suburban.

"Or the kid comes home after practice and mom says, 'Your mouthguard is here. What did you do?'

"And the kid says, 'Oh, I just shared with Tommie.' "

Most Colts have been playing football since they were kids. Most have done so with scant interest in their mouthguards or the risks inherent. Many are dismissive when confronted with the issues. Football is the ultimate tough-guy culture.

"I've been playing all my life," outside linebacker Dwight Freeney said. "My immune system is probably built up from doing it so long.

"I hope."

The players who greeted the facts with the most levity were, of course, those who don't wear mouthguards because they don't feel the need or doing so inhibits communication or breathing. Center A.Q. Shipley, nose tackle Josh Chapman, kicker Adam Vinatieri and punter Pat McAfee are among them.

McAfee is a relentlessly free spirited sort. He had a different take as he read down the list.

"Animal fences," he said. "What's that?"

The inevitable correction was conveyed. McAfee shook his head.

"God, that's embarrassing I misread that," he said. "I kind of pride myself on my reading skills. I'm huge on grammar, and I'm reading 'animal fences.'

"Man, that's so embarrassing."

Mouthguards. They're football's dirty little secrets, and they will get you, one way or another.

***

Richards also writes for The Indianapolis Star

Animal feces not all that's in NFL players' mouthguards (2024)

FAQs

What are the things football players put in their mouths? ›

Mouthguards are made to collect that high energy and disperse it so that athletes do not fall victim to knocked-out teeth and fractured jaws. So, in simple terms, NFL players wear mouthguards for safety. This precaution is and has always been recommended in high-contact sports.

Why do football players chew on their mouth guards? ›

The answer is very simple: when athletes use them their bodies are actually trying to find the right “bite,” making their jaw move around repeatedly. Traditional mouthguards only offer protection and the scary thing is that they actually prevent a player from performing better.

Why are college football players wearing green mouthpieces? ›

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) mandates the use of brightly colored, intraoral mouthguards by football players to reduce the frequency and severity of craniofacial and intraoral morbidity and mortality, and to enhance the ability of officials to observe player compliance.

Do some NFL players not wear mouthguards? ›

Technically, NFL players are not required to wear mouthguards. Using a mouthpiece is highly recommended, but it is not a mandate athletes have to follow.

Why don't NFL players squirt their own water? ›

Players often don't have time to go find their water bottle, someone's been assigned to bring out some water bottles. The spray the water into the players' mouths because they don't want the player to make contact with the bottle and spread illness through the team.

What is the black stuff you put on your face for football? ›

Eye black is a grease or strip applied under the eyes to reduce glare, although studies have not conclusively proven its effectiveness. It is often used by American football, baseball, softball, and lacrosse players to mitigate the effects of bright sunlight or stadium floodlights.

Why do football players put their thumb in their mouth? ›

The scorer sucking his thumb as a tribute to his child(ren) or to signify that scoring a goal is like child's play, over the years this has become a trademark celebration of Roma legend Francesco Totti. Bruno Fernandes often places his hands over his ears after sucking his thumb.

What is that thing in Steph Curry's mouth? ›

Curry has used a mouthguard for the entirety of his NBA career, and the decision to wear one dates back to his college days. The mouthpiece wouldn't be overly noticeable if Curry wore it normally. However, he is constantly chewing on it during games and especially enjoys gnawing on it at the free-throw line.

Why is Steph Curry always chewing his mouthguard? ›

Curry said that chewing on the mouthpiece helps to calm him down and keep him focused. He especially relies on it when making free throws. A dedicated (or bored) fan decided to study Curry's free throws back in 2016 to see if the chewing habit really did make a difference in his success.

Does Tom Brady wear a mouthpiece? ›

Tom Brady doesn't often get sick, despite the presence of all kinds of nasty things in his mouthguard, because of the flexibility of his response system and the natural turnover of cells in the setting of an otherwise healthy human body.

Why do players cover their mouth when talking on the pitch? ›

"In a loud ground, when you speak normally the sound is being spread out. "It's like a foghorn, if you put your hand over your mouth and point it to the person you are talking to it is much clearer."

Why do NFL quarterbacks have a green dot on the back of their helmets? ›

The green dot. The helmet with a green dot on the back indicates the one member of the defense who's in contact with the coaching staff between plays.

Do NFL players get fined for not covering their legs? ›

The NFL even has rules regarding the length of players' socks, and they are not flexible. In other words, if the socks are too low showing some skin, fines have and will be set in motion. With more on that below, let's dive into how that rule came into the books.

Why do NFL linemen not wear knee braces? ›

They are awkward. They are cumbersome and largely unattractive and, when used over a long period of time, can develop what has been generously described as “a disgusting crust.” Also, they frequently smell as bad as an unventilated horse stall, and it is debatable whether they work as intended.

Can NFL players wear whatever cleats they want? ›

The new NFL rules

But outside of the actual game, players are free to use any cleat colours they want, provided there are no objectionable designs or unlicensed branding.

Why do NFL players use towels? ›

Football players use the towels to keep their hands and/or forearms dry when they play. Wet or moist hands can affect one's grip on the ball, and can even spell the difference between winning or losing a match.

Why do football players tuck a towel in their pants? ›

Wide receivers wear towels similar to how running backs do; to keep the biceps and forearms dry. Wide receivers often hit the ground diving for low and high thrown balls. Having a towel tucked into the pants is great to dry the hands before each snap.

How much does a NFL water boy make a game? ›

Former NFL player Jake Thieneman claimed in a TikTok clip that an average NFL water boy makes around $53.000, noting that the actual figure depends on the team's status and the applicant's experience.

Why are football players wearing only one eye black? ›

What's going on with his eye black? During games, Bass uniquely puts only one stripe of his under his eye. Athletes say it helps keep glares or light away from their eyes.

Why do NFL players paint under eyes? ›

Professional football players have used eye black grease for decades in the belief that it deflects sunlight and harsh stadium lights. Bright lights can lessen an athlete's visual capacity, and impede the perception of detail.

Why do football players wear fanny packs? ›

The fanny packs football players wear are actually known as hand warmers. These hand warmers often have air-activated warmers inside them, which allow the hands to stay warm, away from the cold. Quarterbacks and wide receivers are the top two positions to wear these hand warmers.

Why do football players hold up 4 fingers? ›

It's a universal tradition in football, and one of those important things about the game that must be respected above all else. When the clock expires at the end of the third quarter, teams hold up four fingers to signify the beginning of the most important 15 minutes of the game.

Why do football players put their fist up? ›

Black athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their fists after receiving medals at the games. In the 1960s the fist salute became a symbol of black-power militant groups in the US like the Black Panther Party which carried out armed citizens' patrols to monitor police behaviour in California during the 1960s.

Why football players tie their fingers? ›

It can help to prevent excessive force being applied to the joints in the fingers when gripping and grappling. This increases your grip strength by moving the strength emphasis away from your fingers to your wrist and hands.

What mouthpiece does LeBron use? ›

King James himself has trusted Gladiator since 2010,

and for good reason. With a patented cut design that eliminates bulk and any unnecessary material, only a Gladiator custom mouthguard gives you the thinnest, most comfortable mouthguard possible while also providing the best protection.

Does LeBron wear a mouthpiece? ›

At a professional level, players regularly put their personal safety on the line in the quest to be the greatest. This is why we are beginning to see more and more star NBA players wearing NBA mouthguards. LeBron James and Stephen Curry protect their mouths and teeth with guards.

What do NBA players have in their mouth? ›

The NBA players often wear headbands, shooting sleeves, bands that protect their elbows or knees but some of them also have mouthguards. The purpose of wearing a mouthguard is to protect the teeth and gums. Mouthguards are worn to absorb the impact of an accidental hit to the face.

How much did Curry get fined for throwing his mouth guard? ›

Then, in 2017, the Warriors were playing the Grizzlies when Steph was frustrated about the lack of foul calls. He got mad and threw his mouthguard, which seemed like he was throwing it at the official. He was ejected from the game, and later fined $50,000 for the same. $75,000 over mouthguards.

How much is Stephen Curry's mouthguard worth? ›

"Stephen Curry owns a mouthpiece with a price tag of $75,000!": When the Warriors star paid hefty fines for his iconic mouthguard - The SportsRush.

Does Curry have an ejection? ›

The media could not be played. The media could not be played. The last reigning MVP to be ejected from a playoff game? Stephen Curry, that notorious bad guy, in 2016.

Do NFL players have speakers in helmets? ›

Football players are not allowed to have speakers in their helmets, and the only communication is from coach to player. Football players must either run to the sideline or hand signal the play to have effective communication.

How many hours a night does Tom Brady sleep? ›

But sleep is still very important to Brady's rhythm, he detailed in the 2017 book, The TB12 Method. He aims to get at least nine hours of sleep per night, so he goes to bed at 8.30pm to make sure he can wake up on time and well rested.

How much does an NFL football helmet cost? ›

Each helmet costs $950.

Why do football players wear that thing on their nose? ›

Go Eagles!), you may notice that a number of players have something that looks like tape on their noses. This is a nasal strip. Nasal strips are made of a piece of springy plastic embedded in adhesive bandage. While they look cool, they also serve an important purpose- they can help you breathe better!

How do footballers hang in the air? ›

How do footballers 'hang' in the air? It's because at the top of the leap the player is momentarily stationary as the initial upward velocity of the jump has been removed by the gravitational acceleration but the downward movement is yet to begin.

Why do football captains hold hands? ›

Football Players (mainly the captains) began holding hands as they walk toward the coin toss to show the opposing team that the captains are united. Once they get to the coin toss, they unlink hands and engage in discussion with the referee.

Why do quarterbacks kneel to end the game? ›

The kneeldown is often called a "victory formation", as it is most often run by a winning team late in the game in order to preserve a victory. In the case of a close game, the winning team would be trying to avoid a turnover which might be the result of a more complex play.

What is a dime in football? ›

The dime package refers to six defensive backs on the field at the same time. The defense now employs four down linemen, one linebacker and six defensive backs. It is a lot like the nickel package. The only difference is a sixth defensive back for the Sam linebacker.

What is on a QB's wrist? ›

The bands that hug the quarterback's non-throwing wrist and forearm contain dozens of plays with corresponding numbers or codes.

What happens if a NFL player has to go to the bathroom? ›

But there are no rules against bathroom breaks in Roger Goodell's NFL. And so it is that players celebrating too much after a touchdown can often expect a hefty fine, while coaches and players are free to do the pee-pee dance on the AstroTurf.

How much is an NFL player fined for giving a ball away? ›

According to the NFL's schedule of infractions and fines, players are fined $7,210 for a first offense and $12,360 for a second offense. However, this fine is usually reserved for when players throw or kick the ball into the stands.

Who is the most fined NFL player? ›

Biggest fines in NFL history
RANKTEAM/INDIVIDUALAMOUNT
1Washington Commanders$10 million
2Deshaun Watson$5 million
3Denver Broncos$1.918 million
4-TNew England Patriots$1 million
7 more rows
18 Aug 2022

Why can't NFL players show their legs? ›

1945: Commissioner Elmer Layden, apparently with way too much time on his hands, decides that NFL players have unsightly legs and decrees that all players must wear long stockings. This rule, still on the books, is why NFL players wear high socks while so many NCAA teams still play bare-legged.

Does Tom Brady still wear a knee brace? ›

Tom Brady just turned 44 years old earlier this month.

Why is hair pulling allowed in the NFL? ›

In 2003, after the former Miami Dolphins running back Ricky Williams was pulled down by his dreadlocks in a game, the N.F.L. ruled that hair was part of a player's uniform and therefore legal to grab in pursuit of a tackle.

Do any NFL players have their own shoes? ›

Only 19 players in the history of the NFL have received their own shoes. By comparison, 22 players in the NBA wore a signature sneaker in just the 2021-22 season. Each week this season, exactly 1,696 total players are listed on the active rosters of the league's 32 teams.

Can NFL players pick their own helmets? ›

Each season, NFL players choose their own helmet from a list of helmets ranked by safety performance. The league's continued work to drive innovation in helmet safety has led to more and safer helmet options from which players can choose.

Which chewing gum is used by footballers? ›

Energy Gum Original | Caffeine Chewing Gum by Run Gum for Athletes, Runners, Entrepreneurs.

What are NFL coaches chewing? ›

Chewing gum has a positive effect on your mentals, and that's why both coaches and players chew on the field.

What are pouches that football players? ›

The fanny packs football players wear are actually known as hand warmers. These hand warmers often have air-activated warmers inside them, which allow the hands to stay warm, away from the cold. Quarterbacks and wide receivers are the top two positions to wear these hand warmers.

What is Michael Jordan's favorite gum? ›

The watermelon flavored Bubblicious was reportedly his favorite type of gum. He liked it so much, a Chicago Bulls ball boy once ran five blocks to find him some before a game.

What is Johnny Depp chewing gum? ›

It was nicorette gum. Oh, you have the inside scoop Joel. I can be a little more forgiving for nicorette gum.

What gum do MLB players chew? ›

He called it Big League Chew. Rob's teammate, Jim Bouton, found a gum company to make Big League Chew, and in no time at all it became the “must-have” bubble gum for players of all ages. Today, Big League Chew is still the fun gum that keeps your mouth from getting dry when the game is on the line.

Do NFL players dip during games? ›

The NFL has a similar policy to Major League Baseball's: Players may not use chewing tobacco on the field or during interviews. However, it is commonly used during games by both coaches and players.

What does Brett Favre chew? ›

Favre's admitted addiction is to painkilling drugs including alcohol. The Packers quarterback also dips snuff and carries a paper cup to catch the loathsome drool of his saliva running brown.

Why do NFL players have towels in their pants? ›

If a game happens during snowy or rainy conditions, it will create additional moisture that makes it difficult for players to throw, catch, and hold on to the ball. So, by tucking a towel into the front of their pants, they can keep their hands as dry as possible.

What do players smell before games? ›

Today, some professional athletes believe smelling salts can improve performance. Smelling salts are inhaled stimulants that increase breathing and blood flow to the brain. Despite their history of use, there is limited research into the effects of smelling salts.

What do NFL players wear around their waists? ›

Football players who are frequently spotted wearing this bulky piece of clothing around their waists are quarterbacks and wide receivers. In reality, these are hand warmers. The player's hands are kept warm by the tiny, individual hand warmers that are stored inside the fanny packs.

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