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Grin and bear it: NHL players say losing teeth part of game

When Brent Burns packs his bags for road trips, the San Jose Sharks defenseman often leaves something behind: His cosmetic teeth.

"I don't wear them often," he said. "I usually find them in a drawer a couple months down the road and put them somewhere safe, forget where that is, and find them a couple months later."

Burns, a happy-go-lucky guy, said he is missing three of his real teeth and a fourth is "hanging on by a thread." He is holding out hope it won't join his other missing Chiclets.

"I need that one for corn on the cob," Burns said with a gap-filled smile.