Oral health and impact on performance of athletes participating in the London 2012 Olympic Games: a cross-sectional study

I Needleman; P Ashley; A Petrie; F Fortune; W Turner; J Jones; J Niggli; L Engebretsen; R Budgett; N Donos; T Clough; S Porter

doi:10.1136/bjsports-2013-092891

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Oral health and impact on performance of athletes participating in the London 2012 Olympic Games: a cross-sectional study

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"Role of Micronutrients, Antioxidants, Vitamin D and Virgin Olive Oil in Promoting Oral Health"
Mahantayya V Math
Published on: 18 July 2014
Olympic athletes lose to poor dental health
C. Albert Yeung
Published on: 2 December 2013

Published on: 18 July 2014
"Role of Micronutrients, Antioxidants, Vitamin D and Virgin Olive Oil in Promoting Oral Health"
- Mahantayya V Math, Associate Professor
- Other Contributors:
  Dr Yashoda R kattimani Dr Rita M khadkikar
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Dear Sir, We have read the nice article "Oral health and impact on performance of athletes participating in the London 2012 Olympic Games: a cross-sectional study" by Dr. Needleman and colleagues in your journal (Br J Sports Med2013;47: 1054-1058)(1). In developing countries, the prevalence of dental and periodontal diseases is very high as people...
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Dear Sir, We have read the nice article "Oral health and impact on performance of athletes participating in the London 2012 Olympic Games: a cross-sectional study" by Dr. Needleman and colleagues in your journal (Br J Sports Med2013;47: 1054-1058)(1). In developing countries, the prevalence of dental and periodontal diseases is very high as people have lack of knowledge and are ignorant about oral health(2). Even though the athletes are having physical fitness they might not have given importance for oral health. Food and liquids should be kept in the mouth for a very brief period (3). Food particles continue to remain in the mouth after food and liquid intake because sensory adaptation of the mouth for these particles is very rapid. Lack of antioxidants and micronutrients increases the incidence of dental and periodontal diseases. During high stress periods, intake of micronutrients and antioxidants results in decreased inflammatory processes. High stress exposure is one of the possible factors for exerting an unfavorable influence on periodontal health such as plaque accumulation, local gingivitis and a change in salivary composition (4). In developing countries, the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency ranges between 30-90% (5). Vitamin D acts as an anti- inflammatory agent and stimulates the production of anti-microbial peptides in the saliva (6). Use of 1-2 ml of virgin olive oil (rich in Oleic acid and Phenolic antioxidants)after brushing in the morning and at night before going to sleep will be of help in removing residual food particles and decreasing bacterial growth and adhesion in oral cavity (7, 8).
REFERANCES
1. Needleman I, Ashley P, Petrie A, Fortune F et al. Oral health and impact on performance of athletes participating in the London 2012 Olympic Games: a cross-sectional study Br J Sports Med 2013;47:1054-1058
2. Petersen PE, Bourgeois D, Ogawa H, Estupinan-Day S, Ndiaye C. The global burden of oral diseases and risks to oral health. Bull World Health Organ. 2005; 83(9):661-9.
3. Dawes C Salivary flow patterns and the health of hard and soft oral tissues. JADA 2008; 139(5 supp); 18S-24S. 4. Willershausen B, Ross A, F?rsch M, Willershausen I, Mohaupt P, Callaway A. The influence of micronutrients on oral and general health Eur J Med Res. 2011; 16(11): 514-518 5. Arabi A, El Rassi R, El-Hajj Fuleihan G. Hypovitaminosis D in developing countries-prevalence, risk factors and outcomes. Nat Rev Endocrinol. 2010;6(10):550-61
6. Stein SH, Tipton DA; Vitamin D and its impact on oral health--an update. [Journal Article, Review]; J Tenn Dent Assoc 2011; 91(2):30-33.
7. Pretty IA, Gallagher MJ, Martin MV, Edgar WM, Higham SMA study to assess the effects of a new detergent-free, olive oil formulation dentifrice in vitro and in vivo. Dent. 2003 Jul;31(5):327-32
8. Math M.V. Olive Oil and Water - Role in Oral Care. International Journal of Medical and Clinical Research 2013; 4 (1); 258-260.
From .
Dr Mahantayya V Math Dr Yashoda R kattimani Dr Rita M khadkikar MGM Medical College Kamothe, Navi Mumbai Maharashtra state, India
Conflict of Interest:
None declared
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Conflict of Interest:
None declared.
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Published on: 2 December 2013
Olympic athletes lose to poor dental health
- C. Albert Yeung, Consultant in Dental Public Health
Oral health can have a negative impact on athletic performance but this study [1] shows that Olympians did not ensure their teeth were kept in good condition. Nearly half (46.5%) of the athletes reported not attending a check-up or hygiene visit within 12 months of the Games and 8.7% reported never receiving such care.
The Commonwealth Games is one of the world's largest multi-sport events and is also held ever...
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Oral health can have a negative impact on athletic performance but this study [1] shows that Olympians did not ensure their teeth were kept in good condition. Nearly half (46.5%) of the athletes reported not attending a check-up or hygiene visit within 12 months of the Games and 8.7% reported never receiving such care.
The Commonwealth Games is one of the world's largest multi-sport events and is also held every four years. For the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, UK, a mobile dental unit was available to provide emergency dental treatment for all athletes and VIPs. A dental health survey was carried out among the patients attending the dental clinic. A total of 168 team members, families and officials from 40 nations visited the dental clinic. Over 30% of them did not have their own dentists. Nearly 70% of them did not visit their dentists regularly. The majority of the patients (62%) were not interested in any oral health advice. Some 6% of athletes experienced their first dental treatment during the Commonwealth Games. [2]
Although the athletes may be superstars in their various sports, they may come from countries or situations in which preventive oral care is not available. Many athletes may also have diets that are geared towards optimal performance, but some diets high in calories are not good for their teeth. Rowers, for instance, may consume 6000 calories a day. [3] To take in that amount of calories they are drinking a lot of sugary drinks and a lot of those drinks are erosive as well. This coupled with the lack of time given to dental care due to pressures of training may have caused poor oral health.
REFERENCES
1. Needleman I, Ashley P, Petrie A, et al. Oral health and impact on performance of athletes participating in the London 2012 Olympic Games: a cross-sectional study. Br J Sports Med 2013;47:1054-8.
2. Yeung CA, Feng JK. Dental services at the Commonwealth Games 2002 in Manchester [abstract]. J Dent Res 2004;83(Spec Iss A):abstract 709. http://iadr.confex.com/iadr/2004Hawaii/techprogram/abstract_40635.htm
3. NHS Choices. An Olympic athlete's diet. http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/olympics/Pages/Athletediet.aspx
Conflict of Interest:
None declared
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Conflict of Interest:
None declared.
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