UK researchers uncover reasons why athletes have poor oral health

UK: Scientists at the University College London (UCL) surveyed the teeth of 352 British athletes and found that they brushed twice a day and flossed regularly, but still had dental problems.

These athletes come from a variety of athletic fields, including cycling, swimming, paddling, hockey, sailing, rugby and football.

This study is consistent with previous findings on oral hygiene in football players. Many previous studies have found poor oral hygiene in football players.

Compared to the general public, about half of top athletes suffer from tooth decay. That percentage is about one-third of the average peer.

Among athletes, up to 94% brush their teeth twice a day, and 44% regularly use dental floss to clean their teeth.

Among the average person, only 75% brush their teeth twice a day, and 21% floss their teeth.

The researchers, who published the results in the British Journal of Dentistry, sought to find out what causes cavities in athletes.

Not only that, but the smoking rate among athletes is also much lower than that of the general public.

At the same time, athletes have more balanced and healthier diets than the average person. But why are their teeth not as good as non-sporting people?

Energy drinks and foods

According to the survey, 87% of athletes drink sports drinks and 59% eat energy bars during training and competition.

Often high in sugar, these foods can quickly fuel an athlete and increase athletic performance.

It is the sugars in these products that increase the risk of tooth decay in athletes, and the acidity in these products also increases the risk of tooth decay.

Other causes of bad teeth in athletes include: Dry lips due to increased breathing during high-intensity exercise and training. 

This results in less protection of the saliva in the mouth and is also bad for the teeth.

At the same time, it has also been suggested that poor oral hygiene can also affect overall athletic performance, such as reduced training time for athletes due to dental problems.

Therefore, researchers recommend that professional athletes use high-fluoride mouthwashes and high-fluoride toothpastes.

At the same time, athletes are advised to reduce the intake of sports drinks and energy bars, and visit the dentist more.

Teeth and health

In recent years, more and more attention has been paid to the connection between teeth and health. Dental health may not only affect the athletic performance and performance of athletes, but also directly affect the quality of life. For example, there is growing evidence of a link between dental and oral health and the heart.

Studies have shown that people with poor oral health have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. Bleeding teeth and inflamed gums allow oral bacteria to enter the blood system and form fatty plaques in blood vessels.

At the same time, they also cause the liver to make certain proteins that cause inflammation in the blood vessels. Ultimately, inflammation can lead to heart disease or stroke.