Background

Life as a top athlete is associated with an increased incidence of caries, erosion injuries and periodontal disease. This affects athletes' quality of life and performance in training and competition. The reasons for the increased vulnerability to oral disease are complex. Hard and prolonged exercise can cause dry mouth and exercise-induced immunosuppression. At the same time, many top athletes have a diet with frequent and high intake of carbohydrates, and consume other products with low pH, such as sports drinks and gels. Other lifestyle factors, such as stress and lack of time, can make oral hygiene and visits to the dental office a lower priority. Decreased oral health, in turn, can lead to poorer recovery, increased risk of injury, and decreased performance in training and competition.

Purpose

We want to increase knowledge about the importance of oral health among top athletes and their support system. Awareness of oral health can contribute to increased performance, stronger performance and higher quality of life. For the top athlete, it is often the small margins that are crucial to getting a place on the team or on the podium. Better oral health can help increase the chances of the athlete achieving their goals. Top athletes are often role models in society, and a focus on oral health among this group can affect other groups in society, such as children and adolescents.

Methods

Questionnaire, interview and data from UNG-hunt4 combined with journal data from the public dental service in Trøndelag.