title: Oral cleanliness and gingival health among Special Olympics athletes in Europe and Eurasia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Special Olympics athletes, as well as the general population of people with intellectual disabilities, are expected to have poorer gingival health. The aim of the study is to explore the prevalence of gingival signs of inflammation and its relationship to oral cleanliness and age among Special Olympics athletes from Europe and Eurasia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective longitudinal study was performed with data collected through standardized oral from 15.941 athletes from annual Special Olympics events held in 49 countries, from Europe and Eurasia between 2007 and 2012. The data was analysed descriptively, with One-Way ANOVA test and Chi-Square test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The level of significance was predetermined at a p value < 0.05. A total of 7,754 athletes presented with gingival signs (48.64%). There were no significant differences (p= 0,095) in mean gingival signs between age groups, however the association between mouth cleaning and age, was statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data suggests that there is a high prevalence of gingival signs among individuals with special needs; over 50% in more than 20 countries. Therefore, there is a serious need for education and preventive programs for the patients, their parents and caregivers.
authors.affiliation: Dental School, Centre of Special care in dentistry, Ghent University, Pintelaan 185, Ghent 9000, Belgium, Luc.Marks@UGent.be.
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Marks
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fernandez
authors.forename: Imke
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kaschke
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Perlman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001208:Asia; D056352:Athletes; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D005881:Gingiva; D006801:Humans; D038622:Internationality; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009909:Oral Health; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult