Are you an athlete that commonly develops oral health problems, despite being diligent about your hygiene routine? A recent study has found that energy bars, gels, powders, as well as the regular consumption of sports drinks are putting your mouth in jeopardy. Instead of sacrificing your pearly whites to come out on top, you can take precautionary measures to reduce the impact these products have on your teeth and stay in peak condition. Read on to learn your dentist in Plainview has to say about the study and how you can protect your mouth from decay and infection.
Athletes and Oral Health
A study was conducted by University College London that surveyed 352 athletes that participated in sports like cycling, swimming, rugby, football, rowing, hockey, and sailing. Researchers found that high-performing and professional athletes mostly had bad oral health despite keeping up with their oral hygiene routine of brushing and flossing. It showed that 94 percent of the athletes sampled brushed their teeth twice each day, as opposed to 75 percent of the general public. It also showed that 44 percent of the athletes flossed routinely, compared to 21 percent of the public. According to this, they should have better oral health, right? Wrong.
Most of the athletes that they surveyed either drank sports drinks (87 percent) or routinely ate energy bars (59 percent) and gels (70 percent). Because these have such a high amount of sugar in them, they’re infamous for causing oral health problems like cavities that can lead to infections. The researchers found that these athletes are at a higher risk of developing oral health problems because of their consumption of these performance-enhancing products.
Preventing Oral Health Problems From Developing
The best way to tackle oral health problems if you’re an athlete is to design a preventive plan with your dentist in Plainview. There are countless efforts you can make to keep your mouth cavity-free and make it so that you will be able to enjoy your pearly whites for decades to come. Some of these steps include:
- Brushing twice each day with fluoride toothpaste and flossing at least once a day.
- Visiting your dentist more frequently for checkups and cleanings.
- Implement additional fluoride by using mouthwash daily.
- Substitute sports drinks for water.
- Making changes to your diet.
- Reducing your intake of carbonated drinks.
- Use custom-crafted sportsguards.
Staying in first place doesn’t always rely on consuming sugary and acidic foods and snacks. Your dentist will be able to suggest alternative energy sources that won’t destroy your oral health in the process. Keeping your mouth happy and strong is well worth the effort. You won’t regret it when you’re still able to enjoy your natural teeth decades from now!
About the Practice
At Meadowbrook Dentistry, we offer the care and expertise of three experienced dentists. Each of our team members is dedicated to helping their patients’ lead healthier and happier lives. We don’t want keeping up with your oral health to be a hassle, which is why we offer flexible scheduling and convenient Saturday hours. For questions or to schedule a routine checkup and appointment, visit our website or call 516-346-5655.