title: Oral health and elite sport performance.
abstract: While the research base is limited, studies have consistently reported poor oral health in elite athletes since the first report from the 1968 Olympic Games. The finding is consistent both across selected samples attending dental clinics at major competitions and more representative sampling of teams and has led to calls from the International Olympic Committee for more accurate data on oral health. Poor oral health is an important issue directly as it can cause pain, negative effects on appearance and psychosocial effects on confidence and quality of life and may have long-term consequences for treatment burden. Self-reported evidence also suggests an impact on training and performance of athletes. There are many potential challenges to the oral health of athletes including nutritional, oral dehydration, exercise-induced immune suppression, lack of awareness, negative health behaviours and lack of prioritisation. However, in theory, oral diseases are preventable by simple interventions with good evidence of efficacy. The consensus statement aims to raise awareness of the issues of oral health in elite sport and recommends strategies for prevention and health promotion in addition to future research strategies.
authors.affiliation: UCL Eastman Dental Institute, London, UK.
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Needleman
authors.affiliation: UCL Eastman Dental Institute, London, UK.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ashley
authors.affiliation: UCL Eastman Dental Institute, London, UK.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fine
authors.affiliation: UCL Institute for Sport Exercise and Health, London, UK.
authors.forename: Fares
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Haddad
authors.affiliation: UCL Institute for Sport Exercise and Health, London, UK.
authors.forename: Mike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Loosemore
authors.affiliation: UCL Institute for Sport Exercise and Health, London, UK.
authors.forename: Akbar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Medici
authors.affiliation: UCL Eastman Dental Institute, London, UK.
authors.forename: Nikos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Donos
authors.affiliation: KCL Dental Institute, London, UK.
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Newton
authors.affiliation: Human Performance Lab, GlaxoSmithKline, Brentford, UK.
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: van Someren
authors.affiliation: KCL Dental Institute, London, UK.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Moazzez
authors.affiliation: English Institute of Sport, Bath, UK Faculty of Sport and Exercise Medicine, Edinburgh, UK.
authors.forename: Rod
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jaques
authors.affiliation: English Institute of Sport, Bath, UK.
authors.forename: Glenn
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hunter
authors.affiliation: School of Kinesiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Aspetar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: Karim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Dental Practice, Marlow, UK.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shimmin
authors.affiliation: St Mary's University, Twickenham, School of Sport, Health & Applied Science, UK.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brewer
authors.affiliation: Dental Practice, Cardiff, UK.
authors.forename: Lyndon
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Meehan
authors.affiliation: Past President, Academy for Sports Dentistry, Farmersville, Illinois, USA.
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mills
authors.affiliation: UCL Eastman Dental Institute, London, UK.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Porter
mesh_terms: D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D032921:Consensus; D003681:Dehydration / Q000503:physiopathology; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009909:Oral Health / Q000592:standards*; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Dentistry; Elite performance; Infection; Teeth