Do Olympic Athletes Measure Up?
It takes commitment, sacrifice, passion, hard work and a healthy lifestyle to be ranked with the top athletes of the world. With the 2014 Winter Olympics fast approaching, it raises the question: How do Olympic athletes measure up?
In a recent study from the British Journal of Sports Medicine, 302 athletes from 25 sports in the 2012 Olympic games were given a clinical examination and then asked to complete a brief questionnaire on their oral health. The majority of the athletes were from Africa, the Americas and Europe. Overall, the results demonstrated high levels of poor oral health. More than 75% of the participants had gingivitis, which is an early stage of gum disease, and 15% had signs of periodontitis, which is an irreversible gum infection.
Surprisingly, nearly half of the participants had not undergone a dental examination or hygiene care in the previous year and 8.7% had NEVER been to the dentist.
Furthermore, many of the athletes reported being bothered by poor oral health and nearly one fifth of them admitted it affected their training and/or performance.
Professor Needleman, leader of the study, says:
“Oral health is important for well-being and successful elite sporting performance. It is amazing that many professional athletes – people who dedicate a huge amount of time and energy to honing their physical abilities – do not have sufficient support for their oral health needs, even though this negatively impacts on their training and performance.”
Whether you are an Olympic athlete, an exercise enthusiast, or a member of the general public, remember to pick up your toothbrush before you lace up those running shoes and don’t forget to visit your dentist.
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