Toothache, a common dental condition, is an important factor that negatively influences the mood of athletes. Due to toothache, athletes are sometimes unable to complete a sports competition and withdraw or have to interrupt their training schedules. Dentist Hatice Ağan said in a press statement that dental diseases directly affect the performance of sportsmen and women. Ağan said that according to a study assessing sportsmen in 25 different sports fields, it was found that 55 percent of them were diagnosed with tooth decay. Moreover, one-third of them suffered from gingivitis and 15 percent were found to have irreversible gingival and soft tissue damage. Among the subjects, 18 percent said toothache negatively affected their success. More than half the athletes did not have a dental check-up in the past year.
Many studies also demonstrated that athletes suffer from poor oral hygiene, which is related to food habits, Ağan said. "Athletes need twice the amount of energy than a healthy adult. A significant portion of energy comes from carbohydrates. To minimize the effects of the acidity caused by high-calorie carbohydrates and the high sugar content in energy drinks, it is recommended to use high-fluoride toothpaste," she said. Ağan also said tooth decay can easily be caused by dental plaque, which increases when saliva, which protects teeth from decay and erosion, reduces during long and exhausting exercises. She stressed that athletes are recommended to consume water during training breaks to avoid dry mouth. In general, tooth decay and bacteria that cause intraoral infections can damage internal organs, especially the heart, kidneys and liver. Ağan emphasized that routine dental check-ups can help them avoid possible problems and increase their success.
