Professional ballplayers encourage athletes of all ages to cover their bases on the oral health front.

Arizona’s starting pitcher, Patrick Corbin, is partnering with the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) this April to promote National Facial Protection Month. And the Seattle Mariners MLB team have teamed with Forward Science Technologies, the developer of the OralID oral cancer screening device to highlight the importance of the early detection of oral cancer.

According to drbicuspid.com, during the Mariners’ spring training in Arizona, players and coaches were screened by Robert Levine, DDS, an assistant professor at the Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health, and predoctoral students. The screening included head and neck exams, followed by an OralID fluorescence exam. The players were also reminded about the risks associated with chewing tobacco and the correlation between HPV and oral cancer.

An All-Star example of safety on the field, Corbin consistently wears a mouth guard from his position on the pitching mound and while at bat. Corbin is dedicated to facial protection and created a radio public service campaign to encourage athletes of all ages to cover their bases when it comes to protecting their mouth, teeth and face. His goal is to remind players of the importance of wearing a mouth guard and the serious repercussions of an injury to the teeth.

National Facial Protection Month is an annual initiative that reminds athletes to play it safe during recreational and organized sports by wearing a mouth guard and appropriate safety gear at every practice and every game.

Corbin, All-Star starting pitcher for Arizona, is a prime example of a professional athlete who takes protecting his teeth seriously. When baseballs can be hit at speeds over 100 mph in professional baseball games, Corbin protects himself on the pitching mound by always wearing a mouth guard.

“Wearing a mouth guard on the field is just as important as any other protective gear,” says Corbin. “In baseball, a line drive can come at you when you least expect it, and it’s crucial to be protected at all times.”

National Facial Protection Month is sponsored annually during the month of April by the American Association of Orthodontists (www.mylifemysmile.org), the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (www.aaoms.org), the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (www.mychildrensteeth.org), the Academy for Sports Dentistry (www.academyforsportsdentistry.org), and the American Dental Association (www.mouthhealthy.org).