Athletes frequently believe that dental and gum disease have no bearing on their athletic performance; however, several studies have found the opposite to be true.Tooth decay is one of the most famous health problems, affecting around 3.5 billion people worldwide, according to a WHO report in 2022. This article defines the decay and its symptoms, its causes in athletes, methods of prevention, and treatment of decay.
What is tooth decay?
There is a correlation between dental and gum disease and sports injuries that occur in athletes. A Malaysian study in 2021 showed that about 77.62% of athletes suffer from decay. It is frequently an impediment to the average person's and athlete's daily lives.
Several studies have shown that dental and gum infections not only negatively affect the hard and soft tissue surrounding the teeth but also affect athletes' bodies. Tooth decay is damage to the layers of teeth that manifests as holes.
1. Decay on the surface of the tooth
This type affects the outer surface of the tooth, where bacteria can remain for long periods of time and usually appear on the outer part of the tooth. This type is easy to prevent and treat unless it happens in the area between teeth.
2. Decay in mills
This type appears on cavities, cracks, and low molars on the surface of the chewing area and can develop rapidly if the mouth and teeth are not kept healthy or if the cavity is left untreated.
3. Decay from the tooth root
This type of cavity develops in the tooth root area and is mainly prevalent in people with receding gums.
Stages of tooth decay
يحتوي الفم على مجموعة متنوعة من البكتيريا ، بعضها ينمو ويتكاثر في وجود أطعمة أو مشروبات مختلفة تحتوي على السكر أو النشويات المطبوخة. إذا لم تتم إزالة هذه الكربوهيدرات عند تنظيف أسنانك بالفرشاة ، فإن البكتيريا ستحولها إلى أحماض. ويؤدي هذا إلى تغيير في درجة حموضة الفم في غضون 20 دقيقة ، يمكن أن تتحول البكتيريا والحمض أو جزيئات الطعام واللعاب إلى طبقة البلاك ، وهي الطبقة اللاصقة التي تغلف أسنانك، بينما يتآكل الحمض في طبقة المينا.
The oral cavity contains a variety of bacteria, some of which grow and reproduce in the presence of different foods or drinks containing sugar or cooked starches. If these carbs are not removed when brushing your teeth, the bacteria will turn them into acids. This leads to a change in the pH of the mouth within 20 minutes. Bacteria, acid, or food molecules and saliva can turn into the plaque layer, the adhesive layer that envelops your teeth, while acid erodes the enamel layer. When applying the tongue to the teeth, this plaque can be felt for hours after brushing, and the plaque is rather rough in the area of the teeth and molars, especially along the gum line.
Causes of decay in athletes
Previous studies and research have shown that the proportion of athletes with oral diseases is significant, including tooth decay and gum inflammation, which certainly negatively affects their performance in sports competitions. This occurs in athletes as a result of several factors, including:
- ● Sports respiration rate doubles 3–4 times the average person's respiration rate and leads to dry breathing, thereby reducing the protection offered by saliva to the mouth, which in the long term leads to tooth decay and gum infections.
- ● Also, during workouts and competitions, consume sports drinks, energy gel, and special energy-rich candy bars on a regular basis, as the sugar in these products increases the risk of decay and acidity, leading to tooth corrosion.
- ● Stress and nervous pressure can cause nausea or reflux in the esophagus, change the acidity of the mouth, and thus erode the enamel. Furthermore, tension in some people is accompanied by pressure on the teeth, which can result in partial tooth fracture.
- ● Foods eaten by an athlete may cause decay, such as starches, because there is an enzyme in the mouth (salivary amylase) that helps break down starches, leading to a change in the acidity of the mouth.
Complications of tooth decay
Tooth decay results in many complications, such as pain, tooth abscesses, loss of teeth or broken teeth, chewing problems, and acute infections. When cavities reach a very painful stage, normal daily practices are disrupted. If tooth decay results in tooth loss, this may have a negative impact on self-confidence, and in very rare cases, decay can lead to abscesses. This can have a negative impact on self-confidence, and in very rare cases, abscesses from decay can lead to severe infections that can cost the patient's life if left untreated.
A severe risk of tooth decay is that it may lead to the formation of purulent foci that spread microbes and toxins and attack some organs of the body. The risk increases with repeated neglect of dental hygiene and exposure to decay. This purulent focus affects muscles, heart valves, or kidneys, where bacteria spread from the affected teeth and gums to the blood and blood vessels, resulting in platelets adhering to each other in the body and changing blood viscosity and negatively affecting blood flow. This reduces blood flow that carries oxygen and food to organs such as the muscular system, causing muscle weakening, muscle atrophy, and tearing.
Are all these risks only?
No, there is a particular risk of tooth decay in the upper jaw; this area of the jaw belongs to the danger triangle of the face. This triangle extends from the corners of the mouth to the bridge of the nose in the form of a triangle.
Therefore, the presence of inflammation or pus in the upper teeth can lead to serious complications such as a blood clot in the cavernous sinus (cavernous sinus thrombosis), a brain abscess, or meningitis.
What are the symptoms of tooth decay?
Symptoms at the early stage of the development of decay vary from person to person, and are associated with the degree and location of decay. Symptoms or signs may not appear at the beginning of decay, but with worsening decay, different symptoms appear. Symptoms may occur and include:
• Tooth pain.
• Tooth sensitivity.
• Pain in different degrees when eating hot or cold foods or sugary drinks.
• Visible tooth cavities.
• Pain when chewing the food.
• The appearance of pus around the teeth.
Prophylaxis of decay in athletes
After understanding the dental problems and how they affect the performance and health of the athlete, we should know the means to help prevent and avoid dental diseases, including:
- ● Periodic visit to the sports dentist.
- ● Cleaning teeth after each meal is the primary factor in preventing decay and gum infections. Teeth should be cleaned at least twice a day with brush and fluoride toothpaste, as well as flossed at least once a day.
- ● Reduce the drinking of energy drinks and increase the drinking of natural juices without sugars and eat healthy meals, vegetables and fruit.
How to diagnose decay?
Dentists can diagnose it very easily, ask if there is pain or allergy, examine the mouth and teeth with a special screening tool to see if there are any soft spots on the teeth. Sometimes the diagnosis needs an X-ray of the teeth.
How to treat tooth decay?
Treated according to its type and also heavily dependent on dental health, it includes:
- ● Fluoride therapy.
- ● Composite fillings.
- ● Root Canal Treatment.
- ● Wear full dental coverings used to restore and repair damaged teeth
- ● Root Canal Treatment.
Dental health is important for athletic performance. So, regular dental visits and prophylaxis is crucial for maintaining oral health.
References
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