Oral and dental health is of great importance in a person's overall health status. Therefore, attention should be paid to the effects of dental diseases on athletes.
An article published in the Turkish Clinics Journal of Sports Sciences in 2018 reported that poor oral health can create a focus of infection on muscles and tendons. Additionally, a study conducted with 215 professional football players from the football leagues of England, the Netherlands, and Belgium reported that dental and periodontal diseases were associated with muscle cramps, muscle, and tendon injuries.
Although there is no direct link between tooth decay and muscle strength, it is known that infection reaching the pulp has a negative effect on the body's immune system. Moreover, the presence of factors whose effects on the mouth or other problems are unknown negatively affects athletes' performance.
Consumption of high-carbohydrate and acidic beverages in nutrition to increase sports performance also adversely affects oral and dental health. According to the British Journal of Sports Medicine, although the consumption of energy/sports drinks helps improve performance, they are three times more acidic than soda and have negative effects on oral/dental health. Additionally, it has been observed that saliva flow decreases and pH decreases during exercise in athletes, leading to increased oral and dental diseases due to dry mouth.
SPORT INJURIES AND DENTAL TRAUMA
Dental treatments aimed at preventing injuries that may occur during team or individual sports activities help prevent major problems that may occur later.
The athlete should be both healthy and minimally affected by possible injuries. Especially in team sports with close contact (such as football, basketball, etc.) and individual sports (such as boxing, karate, etc.), mouthguards designed to prevent injuries to the jaw and teeth should be worn by athletes.
In the event of any injury during sports, immediate dental consultation is necessary. Your dentist will provide necessary initial intervention according to the extent of the trauma and inform you about the treatments to be done afterward.
As in every branch of health, immediate and early intervention is crucial in dentistry as well. In case of any blows to your face, teeth, or jaw, please seek dental examination for possible problems.