Health Researchers Urge Olympians to Look After Their Winning Smiles
The Olympic Games are ready to set off in Rio de Janeiro and the world’s greatest athletes are ready to show off their amazing speed, strength and endurance feats. But not all will be adding amazing oral health to that impressive list.
A team of dental researchers has reported that sports stars are at a higher risk of tooth erosion that people who aren’t athletes.
The team discovered that athletes who carried out more weekly training had more caries than athletes who didn’t train as often. The study focused on triathletes and revealed that their high consumption of energy bars, gels and drinks during training could lower the pH of the mouth below 5.5. This means that more acid is in the mouth, putting the athletes at a higher risk of enamel erosion and dental decay.
Olympians have been urged by the Oral Health Foundation to take special care of their smiles as they take part in the games. CEO Dr Nigel Carter OBE said that top athletes put their oral health at risk via their training routine and the body has urged them to ensure they take the time to take care of their teeth.
Dr Nigel Carter OBE said that after the London 2012 Olympics, research found in the British Journal of Sports Medicine the following year revealed that 55% of athletes suffered tooth decay. It also found that more than three out of four athletes had an early stage of gum disease and 15% had signs of irreversible periodontitis.
He added that this is a significant number of athletes and because Olympians are seen as role models, they should make sure they take care of their oral health. Dr Carter said that they should be brushing twice a day using fluoride toothpaste, seeing their dentist on a regular basis and trying to limit the amount of sugar they consume. If this isn’t possible, Dr Carter said they must drink lots of water and chew sugar-free gum to reduce the impact sugar has on the teeth.
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