Bad Teeth due to High-Performance sports ?
This has already been mentioned in a publication in the British Journal of Sports Medicine (2014; doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2014-093804). At the London Olympics in 2014, toothache was one of the most common health problems for athletes. Even 30% of medical consultations during the games were for toothaches: the second most common reason for consultations!
Unfortunately, this is not a new problem:
Ian Needleman of the Eastman Dental Institute in London has identified a total of 39 studies. All of which document poor conditions of dental health care amongst top athletes: Between 15 and 75 percent of the athletes suffer from tooth decay and up to 15 percent from periodontitis. Also, erosions of tooth enamel were found in 36 to 85 percent of the athletes.
The oral hygiene of all athletes, despite which country they originated from, was not adequate and quite insufficient, one of 20 athletes complained that their performance suffered due to toothache pains during, or leading up, to the competitions.
Unfortunately, competitive sports have a direct influence on the poor dental condition of these athletes. The intense body load and long duration of training times, leads to a dry mouth caused by the drastic reduction in available saliva due to dehydration. Therefore, the teeth lose some of their natural protection against cavities and enamel erosions. At the same time, many athletes fuel their high energy needs with carbohydrates which are abundantly contained in the energy drinks and energy bars they consume. This combination leads to a bombshell effect!
What can be done about it?
First, make sure you see your dentist and get any potential problems checked up, and schedule regular dental hygiene cleanings. Then it is essential to maintain regular and thorough cleaning after meals. In addition, for athletes, I recommend regularly during the training activity to rinse the mouth out with water and include in this a periodic fluoride-containing solution that you carry with you. A great product for this is the Snow Shine Whitening Foam from Snow Pearl which is particularly suitable for this situation: it contains fluoride, moisturizes the oral mucous membranes excellently, contains lavender oil and propolis (a natural antibiotic produced by bees). The small pump bottle contains 50 ml of Snow Shine foam solution which can easily be taken during training. The small bottle lasts a long time with up to 200 pumps worth of solution. It is best to apply the light foam directly in the mouth, the mouth should be rinsed with it for a few seconds and then ejected. Done!
A perfect way to maintain healthy teeth!