Athletes from all over the world continue to prepare as the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games creep closer and closer, kicking off on August 5th. The life of an elite athlete means to win it all, you have to have it all: talent, dedication, coaching and nutrition. And just like skipping a day of training, poor oral health can be the difference between podium and last place.
The State of Oral Health in Olympic Athletes
In the 2012 Olympics, nearly half of the athletes had not seen a dentist in the past year. And a shocking 75% had diseased gums, according to a study from the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
Athletes experience dehydration from sweating, refuel with gels and sports drinks and require excessive calories—all factors that can destroy teeth. Experts assume these contribute to Olympians’ (poor) oral health.
Proof from the Past
At the 2012 London Olympics, 1/5 of athletes said their oral health damaged their performance for the games.
The trend is not new. At the 1984 Olympics, Michael Jordan had to sit on the sidelines due to a significant dental issue. A more extreme example happened during the 2008 Games. Alan Campbell, a British rower, had an abscessed tooth in the final months leading up to the competition. The infection spread to his knee, forcing him to have surgery and keeping him from training for six weeks. After placing fifth in the finals, Campbell admitted his tooth played a role in the disappointing finish: “I certainly would have gone quicker.”
The Plan for Rio
Since 2004, dentists and volunteers have worked to provide free care to athletes and team officials. The initiative continues at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. The clinic will have 8 dental chairs; in addition to X-ray machines, root canal specialists and surgical facilities. The clinic will also provide mouthguards and on-site dentists during the competition.
The hope is that athletes return home as more than Olympians—but as oral health advocates.
