It may come as a surprise but dental health is an issue for many athletes. At Olympic games, dental care is one of the most common requests. There are a variety of factors that impact this which need to be kept in mind for athletes, in particular energy drinks and sports drinks. Peak performance requires peak nutrition which is difficult to achieve with dental health issues.
Prevalence of dental health issues
Globally, dental health is a big issue amongst many athletes. For some it has to do with lack of access to dentists for regular checkups which is a major issue. Without a check-up it’s too easy for a minor issue to become something much bigger. At the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games there were as many as 1600 dental treatments requested which had to be taken care of. Going to the dentist on a regular weekday is bad enough but imagine doing so in such an environment. Having to compete in the biggest moment of one’s life while having a sore mouth on top of it all. Competing your best requires feeling your best and dental health falls right in that category.
Negative dental health contributing factors
For active individuals there is a constant messaging of needing more and more carbs. Yes, carbs can be beneficial in the proper situation but sometimes the message gets confused. Sometimes this gets interpreted to thinking carbs need to be consumed 24/7 with drinks and food. With new sports nutrition products everywhere, this has become incredibly easy to do. Between energy drinks and sports drinks as well as gels, gummies and bars, carbs are easy to find.
Constantly being exposed to high carb containing foods can be hard on teeth though. Typically, cavities get thought of around Halloween time due to kids eating all that candy. This same situation can become present with sports products but isn’t viewed the same way. Without keeping this in mind and making sure to properly clean and take care of one’s teeth, that constant exposure can lead to cavities and other issues as well.
Increasing the risk of those issues is the fact that athletes are pushing their bodies to their limits in training. That effort impacts the immune system already and hurts the ability to fight off inflammation. While focusing on handling the stress of training, it can’t address the stress going on in the mouth. It’s the perfect storm and leaving the mouth very susceptible to potential issues.
Try to be proactive
As mentioned previously, it’s tough to focus on the task at hand with a sore mouth! Being proactive as opposed to reactive is always the way to go and dental health is no exception. There’s never a good time for potential dental surgeries but if able to get ahead of things they can be prevented. If not prevented then at least addressed in more ideal times and situations. Nothing is worse than going into a major competition and then having to go and have dental surgery which can keep you out for a few days or more.
As part of regular pre-season screenings, this is why dental checks are now becoming common amongst sports teams. Getting ahead of these things ensures healthy participation the rest of the year. Make sure you are taking care of your dental health as well. Brush regularly and have regular checkups with your dentist. During the day also make sure you aren’t constantly exposing your teeth to sugar as well. Sports drinks are intended to be used in specific situations when actually competing. Not necessarily while sitting on the couch because you enjoy the flavor. Your best ability is availability so keep those pearly whites healthy!
Study referenced: click here