Study: Athletes have Increased Oral Health Risk

Are you, or is someone you love, a serious athlete or committed to working out? If so, according to a recent study from University College London, it’s especially important to stay on top of your dental health.

The UCL Eastman Dental Institute research team surveyed 352 Olympic and professional athletes across 11 sports, including cycling, swimming, rugby, football, rowing, hockey, sailing and athletics, when they provided dental check-ups for male and female athletes measuring tooth decay, gum health and acid erosion.

The dental check-ups revealed substantial amounts of oral disease as reported in a 2018 paper, finding that nearly half (49.1%) had untreated tooth decay, the large majority showed early signs of gum inflammation, and almost a third (32%) reported that their oral health had a negative impact on their training and performance.

The researchers also asked athletes what they did to keep their mouth, teeth and gums healthy. Elite athletes have poor oral health despite their efforts to care for their teeth: this new study found that 94% reported brushing their teeth at least twice a day, and 44% reported regularly cleaning between their teeth (flossing) -- substantially higher figures than for the general population (75% for twice-daily brushing and 21% for flossing).

Despite the good health habits, and the fact that they didn’t smoke and had a healthy general diet, researchers found that the athletes regularly use sports drinks (87%), energy bars (59%) and energy gels (70%), which are known to damage teeth. The sugar in these products increases the risk of tooth decay and the acidity of them increases the risk of erosion.

The study builds on research carried out by UCL since the London 2012 Olympics. Previous findings have suggested that elite athletes may also face an elevated risk of oral disease from a dry mouth during intensive training—a situation that exacerbates the environment in which bad bacteria thrive.

Encouragingly, the surveyed athletes said they would consider adopting even better oral hygiene habits to tackle this and an intervention study has already been piloted.

What would behaviors I suggest for a serious athlete?

Get Your Teeth Cleaned Every 3 Months: I regularly recommend more frequent cleanings for patients with gum disease, or those who are prone to cavities. This keeps their oral environment in the best state, within reason, and lets us know what we should watch, or what we can prevent from happening.

Choose Beverages and Supplements that are Low in Sugar and Acid: Many supplements are rich in sugar and acid, which promote bacterial growth and tooth erosion. Be careful which ones you select. And if you need the sugar, use a straw to bypass your teeth as much as possible, and rinse with water.

Use a Flouride Rinse: Adding a fluoride rinse to your routine will help remineralize your tooth surfaces and help to protect you against cavities.

Use a Mouth-guard: Any sports in which there can be physical contact require a mouth-guard, which should be custom-fitted to you by the dentist, for your best protection.

If you or your loved one is an athlete or serious about working out, schedule an appointment with Dr. Elzbieta W. Basil, DMD at her West Hartford Center Office or her New Britain, CT Office by contacting the office online, or calling 860-561-2121.

Keep smiling,

Dr. Elzbieta W. Basil, DMD is a private practice dentist with offices in West Hartford Center and  New Britain, Connecticut.  She is a Clinical Instructor at the UConn School of Dental Medicine, and has won several awards naming her regional “Best Dentist” and “Top Dentist.” She is an active member of the Connecticut State Dental Association and the American Dental Association. Tel: 860-561-2121