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Our research in Olympic sports and professional football has highlighted a common problem of poor oral health in athletes including tooth decay (caries), acid erosion of teeth and gum disease(1). Diet, training and lifestyle can create challenges for athletes’ oral health and our studies have found common self-reported impacts on their training and performance.

Maintaining good oral health is simple and cheap and based on brief routines that can be incorporated into daily training with guidance from the dental team. Check-ups are essential for preventive advice and to pick-up early problems. For most athletes, these should be every six months. We are also working with coaching, medical and nutritional support networks in sport to promote oral health(2).

Oral health drills

Based on the best evidence of effectiveness, Prof Ian Needleman, Dr Paul Ashley and Dr Julie Gallagher, the team at the Centre for Oral Health and Performance, UCL Eastman Dental Institute advise the following core oral health drills for athletes:

Twice daily

  • Brush, especially last thing at night
  • Use a toothpaste containing more than 1350ppm (optimally 5000ppmn) fluoride (available from your dentist)
  • Spit, don’t rinse after brushing

Daily

  • Clean between your teeth with dental floss/tape before brushing
  • Use a 0.05% sodium fluoride mouthwash at a different time of day to tooth brushing
  • Maintain a good diet. A diet for good general health and performance will benefit your oral health
  • Avoid sugars other than directly for training and competition

Twice yearly

  • Visit your dentist for regular oral health coaching and check-ups, particular pre-season

 

(1) Needleman I, Ashley P, Fine P, Haddad F, Loosemore M, de Medici A, Donos N, Newton T, van Someren K, Moazzez R, Jaques R, Hunter G, Khan K, Shimmin M, Brewer J, Meehan L, Mills S & Porter S.  Consensus statement: Oral Health and elite sport performance. British Journal of Sports Medicine 2015; 49: 3-6  

(2) Needleman I, Ashley P, Meehan L & Loosemore M. Position statement: Oral Health in Sport. Faculty of Sport and Exercise Medicine 2014

Oral health problems in elite athletes must be addressed

Oral Health and Performance in Professional Football