DT News - UK - 2012 Olympic athletes had poor oral health

Dental Tribune International

Wed. 2 October 2013

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LONDON – Researchers from the UK have evaluated the oral health status of athletes who took part in the 2012 Olympic Games held in London. The findings, which were published only recently, indicate that the sportsmen and -women had high levels of poor oral health. Many of the participants suffered from tooth decay, gum disease or oral infection.

Through systematic oral check-ups, the researchers found that 55 per cent of the 302 athletes surveyed suffered from dental caries. In addition, more than 75 per cent had gingivitis, with 15 per cent showing signs of periodontitis. They found signs of dental erosion in about 45 per cent of athletes.

Although 42 per cent of the participants said that their oral health status bothered them, nearly half of them (47 per cent) had not undergone a dental examination or professional cleaning in the previous year, the researchers reported. Almost 9 per cent had never been to the dentist.

While 28 per cent of athletes stated that they believed that their oral health affected their quality of life, about 18 per cent said that it was having a negative impact on their training and performance.

According to the researchers, the findings corroborate those of previous studies, which suggested that poor oral health in sportsmen might be a result of frequent carbohydrate intake, a reduced immune function owing to intensive training, and a lack of awareness about the link between oral health, overall health and physical performance.

The study was conducted by researchers at University College London’s Eastman Dental Institute at the dental clinic in the London 2012 athletes’ village. The study population comprised athletes from Africa, the Americas and Europe competing in 25 different sports, including track and field, boxing and hockey. The study, titled “Oral health and impact on performance of athletes participating in the London 2012 Olympic Games”, was published online on 24 September in the British Journal of Sport Medicine ahead of print.

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