Mouthguards Increase Baseball Bat Swing Speed

Researchers analyzed the bat swing speed of collegiate baseball and softball players with and without a mouthguard.

Wearing a mouth guard, or actively clenching the jaw, increased speed by an average of 3.0 miles per hour.

Conclusions

Teeth provide a rich source of sensory information and modifying the contact or sensation of the dental system can create full body effects that alter muscular activity and enhance athletic capability.

References

Allen, C., & Garner, D. P. (2024). The effects of jaw clenching and mouthpiece use on bat swing velocity in Division II athletes. Journal of Sports Sciences, 1-6.