This article explores the interesting paradox that exists amongst many professional athletes and that is that, in spite of their incredible physical prowess, they tend to suffer from poor oral health.

1. Dentist News For Wilmington CA: Elite Athletes May Win Gold On The
Sports Field, But Their Oral Health Comes Dead Last
This article explores the interesting paradox that exists amongst many professional athletes
and that is that, in spite of their incredible physical prowess, they tend to suffer from poor
oral health.
In a profession where the difference between gold and bronze medal is a matter of split seconds, body perfection is everything. So
much so, coaches are willing to invest thousands of dollars, if not more, for the most marginal of improvements in the performance of
their athletes. And yet it is here that a stark contrast emerges, because according to several scientific journals - the British Journal of
Sports Medicine being one of them - star athletes are coming in dead last as far as their standard of oral health is concerned!
“This is an interesting paradox for a group of people whose very lives and livelihoods revolve around physical prowess and
perfection,” comments a dentist in Wilmington CA. “Why are these athletes, who invest so much in their physical fitness, neglecting
their oral health?”
This question resounds even louder when you consider that as much as 18% of professional athletes blame a bad performance on
oral problems, according to a UCL survey of the athletes who participated in the London 2012 Olympic Games.
GreaterAttentionon PoorOralHealthAmongstAthletes
This year, increasing attention is being paid to the fact that a significant percentage
of athletes struggle with dental problems and an even greater percentage haven’t
seen the dentist in more than a year.
“Everyone should go for professional check-ups with the dentist and oral hygienist
at least once per year. Those whose bodies are being stretched to their very limits
should go twice per year to prevent conditions such as tooth decay and gum
disease,” says another Wilmington dentist.
Respected Professors from the Institute of Sport Exercise and Health (ISEH) as
well as the UCL Eastman Dental Institute are calling for these common and
pervasive problems to be fixed.

2. “There needs to be a greater standard of oral health and hygiene amongst professional athletes, not only because it could affect their
performance, but also because it could have severe ramifications for their general health in the long run,” says the dentist in
WilmingtonCA.
WhyAre ProfessionalAthletesAt GreaterRisk?
Professional athletes are under intense physical pressure and so their diets are significantly different to the average person’s. They
are eating far more frequently and their diets are higher in carbohydrates, which are easily metabolized by oral bacteria, thereby
fuelling their proliferation. Additionally, elite athletes tend to chug on energy or sports drinks, which are full of acid and sugar.
“The constant exposure to carbohydrate, sugar and acid-rich foods and beverages leaves these athletes at a much higher risk of
tooth decay and gum disease,” says the Wilmington dentist. “Couple this with a lack of professional dental care and you’ve got a
tooth loss case waiting to happen.”
As a result of their strenuous training, athletes tend to get dehydrated
more frequently than the average person and this can lead to a
condition known as “dry mouth.” A lack of healthy saliva flow is
dangerous because of the integral role it plays in fighting bacteria and
washing away food debris. Without it, you’re at a greater risk of
infection and decay.
WhatCan AthletesDo?
Brush your teeth more frequently and for longer, use toothpaste that
contains a lot of fluoride, ALWAYS floss every day, choose water
more often than energy drinks and see the dentist and oral hygienist
twice per year! Consider it an investment in your performance that
could see you ahead of the competition.
Thanks for Reading