Despite the winning smiles of our top athletes in last year’s Olympic Games, it turns out athletes competing in the Games had “striking” levels of bad teeth.
A fifth of the athletes surveyed said their oral health had actually damaged their training and performance.
According to researchers at University College London, athletes teeth suffer because their diet is high in carbohydrates and they consume large quantities of sugary energy drinks.
Stress on the immune system from intense training may also leave athletes at risk of oral disease according to the study, which looked at athletes visiting the free dental clinic at the Games.
If you are an athlete, or just like keeping fit, don’t neglect your teeth, visit Medcare Dental for a free dental examination.