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Stephen Curry’s Unhygienic Habit Had American Dentists Worried about “Bad Influence” on Kids

Published 08/15/2022, 12:00 AM EDT

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USA Today via Reuters

Stephen Curry chewing on his mouth guard during an NBA game is a sight we are all familiar with. However, this unhygienic habit had dentists throughout the country worried about kids’ oral health. As it turns out, they held Stephen Curry responsible for setting a “bad example” for kids.

Chewing on a mouth guard has now become an iconic Curry move. In fact, it has almost become synonymous with the Golden State Warriors superstar’s brand.

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However, dentists have pointed out the harm in popularizing such a “horrible” habit.

Dentists call out Stephen Curry for chewing his mouth guard

In an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Steph Curry had explained the genesis of his habit of chewing mouth guards. As it turns out, he does it to evade nervousness during a game. In fact, the two-time MVP told Kimmel that he chews on his mouth guard on the foul line to relax in between free throws.

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Meanwhile, experts have noticed a significant difference in the Dubs guard’s free throw shooting depending on his mouth guard chewing. In other words, chewing on his mouth gear really helps Steph to relax on the foul line.

Meanwhile, dentists have chimed in on the medical repercussions of this habit. “When he’s chewing it like that, he’s destroying the integrity of the mouth guard,” revealed dental hygienist Cindy Hernandez-Sturrock in an interview. “So it’s not going to be beneficial for him, it’s not going to protect him properly.”

USA Today via Reuters

In addition, she also pointed out that Curry has to put it back in his mouth after every chewing session. As a result, the bacteria in his hands could easily enter his mouth.

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Moreover, Hernandez-Sturrock also underscored the impact Curry’s habit has on kids. “A lot of kids are seeing him, especially during the NBA Finals shooting with his mouth guard on the side of his mouth,” she pointed out. “But these guards are expensive, and when parents are buying them or getting them custom-made, kids are just destroying it.

Curry and his mouth guard

Incidentally, Stephen Curry doesn’t replace his mouth guard every game. In fact, he wears the same gear for about six to ten games.

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Watch this Story: Did LeBron James Drop A Sneak Peek Of The Unreleased LeBron 20s At Drew League?

As it turns out, the eight-time All-Star uses about 12 mouth guards in an entire NBA season. Dentists would definitely not be impressed by this piece of information as well.

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Written by:

Satagni Sikder

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Satagni Sikder is an NBA writer for EssentiallySports. He has a Master's degree in English from Jadavpur University, Kolkata, and has been following the NBA since 2017. Moreover, he supports the Dallas Mavericks, and unsurprisingly, Luka Doncic is his favorite player.
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Edited by:

Tony Thomas