More and more scientific studies indicate how certain oral health problems can affect other parts of the body (muscle fatigue, muscle tears, cardiovascular and joint problems, sprains, etc.) and therefore affect sports performance.
Therefore, if the appropriate measures are not taken, sport, as well as certain habits of athletes, carry different risks to oral health:
- Many athletes (Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi, Marc Márquez, Dani Pedrosa, Pau Gasol, Alberto Contador, etc.) have the habit of clenching or grinding their teeth (bruxism) while carrying out sports activities, which increases the risk of suffering problems such as tooth sensitivity, fissures, malocclusion, dental fractures, etc.
In addition, it should be noted that bruxism involves functional overload that can lead to muscle contractures and headaches or neck pain, which in turn can prevent full control of neck, head and shoulder movements. And therefore limit our sports performance.
And these headaches, ears or jaws can generate problems of stress, anxiety and insomnia, damaging the quality of sleep and affecting our physical condition.
- Caries, as well as pathologies of the gums and the bone that support the teeth, are sources of infection from which bacteria get through the bloodstream and cause damage to tendons, muscles and joints (myalgia, tendonitis, etc. .) and also hinder the recovery process from injuries.
The appearance of cavities is directly related to the excessive consumption of products with a high sugar content such as energy bars, isotonic drinks, juices, smoothies, etc.
- Periodontal disease is an inflammatory infection of our gums that can cause inflammation in other parts of our body and favor the appearance of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes or inflammatory infections.
The bacteria that tend to accumulate in our gums when we suffer from periodontal disease travel through our bloodstream and end up adhering to certain tissues and joints, causing, as we have said before, joint and cardiovascular problems. On the other hand, not having a clean mouth full of bacteria causes inflammatory processes or infections that need a mobilization of energy and resources to be fought by our body, which reduces the athlete’s energy and worsens his performance.
Physical effort and stress lead to dry mouth (xerostomia), which increases the risk of tooth decay, tooth sensitivity, periodontal disease, bad breath, etc. In addition, dehydration, dry mouth and intensive training can alter our immune mechanisms.
It is also worth noting how the size and position of the jaws affect sleep apnea and our breathing.
Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is characterized by apnea episodes at night. That is, a closure of the upper airway occurs, increasing the contraction of the abdominal muscles, decreasing the oxygen saturation in the blood and increasing oxidative stress.
A reduction in the size of the jaws produces respiratory problems and a reduction of oxygen in our body.
It is characterized by the appearance of apnea episodes during the night.
For these reasons, it is especially important that athletes have adequate oral hygiene habits and that when carrying out sports activities they follow recommendations adapted to their context from their dentist.
How to prevent these problems to improve our oral health and sports performance?
- Go to regular check-ups with your dentist: as we have indicated previously, our oral health influences sports performance and in turn sports carry special risks for the health of our mouth. Therefore, it is especially recommended that you go to regular oral check-ups more frequently than the general population; As an oral problem lengthens in time, it can have worse effects on our health and therefore on sports performance.
- It is recommended that you tell your dentist the sport you do to help you as effectively as possible. In this way, they can recommend specific measures for your case, such as:
– Use of discharge splints to reduce tension.
– Reduction, as far as possible, of the intake of energy drinks and products.
– Greater frequency of tooth washing.
– Use of rinses with fluoride.
– Drink water regularly to keep your mouth well hydrated.
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