Score GOLD on Oral Health
All eyes are on the Summer Olympics in Rio. In addition to checking out the amazing performances, games and matches, we’ll be watching something else: the athlete’s mouths. Without proper protection for their teeth, athletes run the risk of damaging their beautiful smiles – and their oral health.
In the 2012 Olympics, nearly half of the athletes had not seen a dentist in the past year. And a shocking 75% had diseased gums, according to a study from the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
These athletes train for long periods of time and experience dehydration from sweating requiring them to refuel with sports drinks and take in extra calories. Experts assume that these factors contribute to Olympians’ (poor) oral health.
Since 2004, dentists and volunteers have worked to provide free care to athletes and team officials. The initiative continues at the 2016 Rio Games. The clinic will have eight dental chairs; in addition to x-ray machines, root canal specialists and surgical facilities. The clinic will also provide mouthguards and on-site dentists during competition.
Of course, playing any sport comes with a certain amount of risk. But while bruises heal and broken bones mend, teeth don’t grow back – and athletes are 60 times more likely to injure their teeth when they’re not wearing mouthguards.
Even sports that don’t require direct contact with other players can cause mouth injuries. A gymnast who misses the mark could collide face-first with a bar or the floor. Cyclists involved in crashes could easily hit their mouths on the pavement or their bikes. And weightlifters should consider what might happen if their teeth come into contact with a barbell.
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http://deltadentalwiblog.com/olympics-making-athletes-champions-oral-health/
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