Maintaining an excellent level of oral health is an essential responsibility for both the athletes themselves and dentists. Sports dentists are medical professionals that examine, treat and maintain oral health of athletes and help to prescribe the precise techniques to keep the athlete’s oral cavity in top shape. Research has shown that oral health has a direct influence on sports performance.
Why Sports Dentists are Important
Sports dentists are part of a rapidly expanding field of dentistry. Sports dentistry helps identify and administer treatment for injuries to the mouth and face that could occur during a sporting activity while prescribing preventive measures to avoid the injuries from happening.
Each year, billions of dollars are spent on treatment of various kinds of sports-related oral problems – from repairing knocked-out or broken teeth to full-face corrective dental surgeries. Experts have estimated that between 30 – 50% of these injuries are preventable if the right precautions are taken.
Oral health benefits for Athletes
The benefits of personal physical exercise and Sports are countless: athletes are healthier, gain more self-confidence and they could lose a healthy amount of weight. However, the associated risks of mouth injuries during sports to the extent of preventing the participation of athletes are not for beneficial to their careers or the sporting community. This is where Sports dental health comes in – Sports dentists can play a major role in advising on the imminent risks due to physical activity by suggesting preventive steps to effectively limit the risk to the athlete’s mouth.
Defensive techniques
Keeping athletes’ mouths safe doesn’t only mean having all wear protective equipment during sporting activities. Reducing the risk of oral injuries also implies that athletes would need to practice proper safety techniques during sports. For instance, while a player is tackling an opponent in soccer, the player must ensure that he/she practices defensive techniques to prevent injuries to the mouth and face at all times. Players and coaches must also ensure that any type of equipment worn on any part of the head fits properly. Coaches and professional fitness trainers could also examine the sports arena to identify potentially unsafe areas that can lead to oral injuries.
Use of protective gear
Especially, in contact sports such as football (NFL) and boxing, the importance of proper-fitting protective equipment cannot be overemphasized. Many athletes are turning to braces and mouth guards to protect their faces in sports like cricket, baseball, and rugby.
Protecting your mouth during sports doesn’t only save time, money and pain over the short term, but in the long haul. According to estimates by the National Youth Sports Foundation for Prevention of Athletic Injuries, if a tooth that was damaged during sports is not treated properly before going to a dentist, it could cost anywhere between $10,000 – $15,000 or more to repair the tooth throughout that athlete’s lifetime.
Getting athletes to take some preventive dental training for games could certainly help Sports dentists make more accurate analysis and determine the best course of action. Also, having professional fitness trainers that are able to carry out the basic examination of oral injuries could do a lot to help athletes maintain good levels of dental health.
Checkups
Pre-season dental checkups can help to determine if any special equipment or procedures need to be taken for athletes with a history of dental issues. The type of sports activity, athlete position, and dental records are vital information for making the right prescriptions for mouth-protecting wearables and taking advising on injury prevention measures prior to a new season. Any dental procedures, like tooth extractions, fixing of braces or permanent tooth fillings or cosmetic surgeries should be completed well before a new season starts, so the oral cavity has a chance to heal properly and get in the best shape before the competition begins.
Consumption of Sports and Energy Drinks
Sports beverage and energy-boosting drinks are firm favorites in the athletic community because they help to quickly boost energy levels after intense activities. Excessive consumption of these drinks could have adverse effects on dental health according to experts.
Typically, athletes maintain great physical form, but the overall health of their oral cavities might be a different story due to excessive consumption of sports drinks. While many athletes believe that energy drinks are practically harmless, and are much better alternatives to sodas and other sugary drinks, only the latter is true. When consumed in large quantities and often, energy drinks are capable of eroding your teeth, in some cases leading to serious dental issues.
Athletes generally consume sports beverages because they have certain benefits that ordinary water doesn’t provide – beverages help to both quench extreme thirst and to replenish electrolytes that have been lost through sweating. They are actually less harmful when taken in moderation, but studies have shown that regular consumption of sports drinks can cause tooth erosion and decay over time.
Sports dentists have figured out ways to get athletes to take sports drinks a little differently. The following tips are advised to significantly reduce your chances of tooth decay and gum problems. Try using the following tips to limit the adverse effects of energy drinks on your dental health without giving it up entirely.
Keep the can from contacting your teeth
You can do this by using a straw to consume your drinks to limit contact with your teeth and gums. When you squirt the drink down your throat, you’d realize that it barely touches your teeth at all.
Rinse your mouth
Rinsing with water after consuming sports beverage is a great way to slow down (or prevent altogether) the harmful effects of the caffeine and artificial sweeteners that are ingredients of many popular products.
Limit Consumption
Sports drinks are only harmful when they are consumed in large quantities. You could aim to limit your intake of sports beverage to one can a day.
Brush twice daily
It can be really hard keeping up with a twice daily brushing routine with your busy schedule as an athlete, but dentists tell us that it’s a critical factor for maintaining dental health. Regular brushing of the teeth clears away harmful bacteria, tooth holes and the build-up of plaque – the primary cause of tooth decay in athletes.
Last words
These are few tips athletes can employ to maintain their overall dental health without giving up your favorite energy drinks. Booking a date with your dentist for regular check-ups are highly recommended, whether you consume sports beverages or not. While staying in great physical shape is crucial for success in the sports world, you must take your oral health seriously because bad dental health could actually prevent you from giving 100% on the field.
KHO Health was acquired by was acquire by 9INE POINT in the summer of 2019 and is now referred to as 9INE POINT Health.
