Oral Health and Performance in Athletes

Elite athletes often have poor oral health despite their fitness, a finding reported consistently since the 1968 Olympic Games.

Dental caries, gum (periodontal) disease and dental erosion are all common. They matter because oral pain and infection can affect confidence, sleep and nutrition and, by athletes' own accounts, training and performance. The sport and exercise medicine (SEM) clinician's job is to understand why athletes are at risk, recognise the main conditions, build simple prevention into athlete care and refer to a dentist.