DITCH THE SPORTS DRINKS, GET A MOUTHGUARD DO ALL ATHLETES HAVE BAD TEETH?
Sports drink commercials would have us believe that the secret to an athlete’s success can be found at the bottom of their drinks. And in theory, they are not wrong! The right nutrition and proper hydration can help an athlete outpace even the stiffest competition, but sports drinks are not healthy — for many reasons. Sports drinks often contain high levels of sugar, which is great for short bursts of energy but not so much for your teeth. Over time, the excessive use of these sugary drinks can cause decay, which can be painful and detrimental to the integrity of an athlete’s teeth. In 2015, a European study found that of 352 athletes training for the 2016 Rio Olympics, nearly 50% had some form of tooth decay. While most maintained a healthy oral care routine, including brushing, flossing, and not smoking, many of these athletes were consuming sports drinks, energy gels, and nutrition bars — all loaded with sugar. Furthermore, it may also impact an athlete’s performance. A recent study found that 40% of athletes surveyed were bothered by their oral health, and 18% said it had an impact on their athletic skill. After all, it’s difficult to move gracefully down the track when your gums are throbbing in pain! However, sports drinks are not the only culprits in bad oral hygiene habits among athletes. Dental professionals encourage many athletes — of all ages and sport preferences — to wear mouthguards. These devices are fitted to an athlete’s teeth and can protect their lips, tongue, face,
and jaw. So, when your second-base player tries to field a bad-hop ground ball off their face or your power forward makes a move and takes an elbow to the jaw, their oral health is better protected. This spring, as new youth sports seasons begin, protect your athlete from poor oral health in three easy steps. (These are great for our weekend warriors, too!) 1. Fuel up with water instead of sugary sports drinks. 2. Get fitted for a mouthguard and wear it regularly. 3. Brush twice each day, and floss once each day. You can learn more about oral health for athletes at your next dental appointment or by visiting the American Dental Association’s website at MouthHealthy.org.
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