Olympians encouraged to take care of their gold standard smiles
The 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro has begun, with the world’s best sportsmen and women displaying their athletic capabilities to the world. However, one thing they may not be showcasing is spectacular oral health, as a report by a team of dental researchers has found that sports people are at a significantly higher risk of tooth erosion than non-athletes (Frese et al, 2015).
The researchers found that athletes who engaged in more weekly training had more cavities than those who trained less. The study, which focused on triathletes, found their high carbohydrate consumption, including sports drinks, gels, and bars during training, lowers the mouth’s pH below 5.5, which means there is more acid in the mouth and a higher risk of tooth decay and dental erosion.
Speaking ahead of Rio’s opening ceremony, Dr Nigel Carter, CEO of the Oral Health Foundation, said that “Following the London 2012 Olympics, research published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine (2013) discovered that more than half (55%) of the athletes had tooth decay. It also revealed more than three in four athletes had gingivitis, which is an early stage of gum disease, and 15% had signs of periodontitis, which is an irreversible gum infection.”
He noted that “Olympians are held up as role models by children across the globe” and, as such, they should “make sure they look after their oral health. At the very least, they should be brushing for two minutes twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, visiting their dentist regularly and trying to limit the amount of sugary foods and drinks they consume and if this is not possible drinks plenty of water and chew sugar-free chewing gum to reduce the sugars impact on the teeth.”
Olympians require energy drinks across a prolonged period of time to help them get through their sports. However, by consuming too many sports and energy drinks, athletes are at risk of dental erosion.
Dr Carter went on to note that if people “are looking to copy their Olympic hero’s habits, it is important to limit the amount of times [you] have anything acidic or sugary. Using a straw to help drinks go to the back of the mouth will help limit the amount of time a fizzy drink will be in contact with teeth.”
