IN MANNYS MOUTH

TRURO - One of the most feared hitters in professional baseball is sporting a new look with a Truro connection this spring.
Boston Red Sox slugger Manny Ramirez is the latest athlete to sign up for the Pure Power Edge, a piece of plastic which improves strength and balance by placing the jaw in the optimal position to enhance performance. Truro dentist Dr. Anil Makkar and partner fitness trainer Chuck Sproule developed the mouthpiece and mouthguard.
Makkar was in Fort Myers, Florida on Saturday to deliver the Edge to Red Sox players, who had tested the product three weeks earlier, when Ramirez asked to speak with Makkar in private.
"He says, 'Doc, I've been getting crazy results with this mouthpiece,'" he said.
The 11-time all-star who receives upwards of 200 requests a month to endorse products even asked Makkar if he could be their spokesman.
"Every time he hits a ball he's going to smile at the camera and point to it," Makkar said Monday.
"You couldn't ask for anything better."
Makkar said it was unbelievable to receive that kind of endorsement.
"Manny said, 'if you're not using an appliance such as this you're not playing to your fullest potential,'" the founder said.
Makkar has always believed in the product's science despite critics scoffing at the idea. Now he has testimonials from professional athletes providing more credibility.
"I have heard from the best that it does work," he said proudly.
"Pro athletes have proven to me that it does work."
The Edge uses the same science as the mouthguard but is designed to only cover the bottom teeth and is for traditionally non-contact sports like baseball, golf and swimming.
Currently two universities, Rutgers in New Jersey and the University of Calgary, are conducting studies to test the product.
Makkar is also receiving interest from investors who want to do an initial public offering on the stock market south of the border.
Some potential investors believe the company can become as big as Nike and Reebok.

jmalloy@trurodaily.com