Effect of poor oral health on respiratory functions which is one of the important factor of sportive performance

Abstract

Pulmonary capacity varies with factors such as age, sex, being healthy, body mass index (BMI), habits, and exercising (1). Simple allometric relationships between body structure and lung rates have indicated that the rate estimates are quite high in the youngest age group and quite low in the oldest adolescents. In addition, younger males have greater lung function values than younger females for standing body measurements. Tidal volume and respiratory minute volume increase with exercise. The increase in inspiration is derived from the inspiratory reserve volume. Vital capacity is an important indicator, but in recent years, forced vital capacity (FVC) measurements have become more accepted. FVC is close to VC in healthy individuals. Forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) has the advantage of being the most reproducible lung function parameter and is normally 75%–80% (2). A decrease indicates large airway obstruction. Oral health is a part of general health and its integrity is impaired by diseases that develop on dental or periodontal tissue. Periodontal diseases are specific infections characterized by the progression of the infections in the gingival connective tissue, periodontal ligament, and alveolar bone, destruction of the dental support tissues, and eventual tooth loss (3). These diseases are caused by complex relationships between pathogenic microorganisms and hosts, and are the most common chronic diseases known to the World Health Organization (WHO) data (4). Recent studies have focused on periodontal health and shown that many systemic and periodontal diseases are related. These are diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory system diseases, metabolic syndrome, kidney diseases, and negative consequences (preterm delivery, low-birth-weight SUMMARY This study aimed to determine the effect of periodontal disease and dental decay, which deteriorated oral health in athletes, on the respiratory system and hence sports performance. The athletes were divided into 3 groups: group 1: no periodontal disease or dental health problem (age: 16.8 ± 4.72 years; 10 male and 15 female); group 2: DMFT 1.7 and 13 athletes with periodontal disease (age: 18.2 ± 4.88 years; 22 male and 22 female); and group 3: DMFT 6.7 and periodontal disease (age: 20.8 ± 4.60 years; 19 male and 23 female). The mean prevalence value, DMFT index, gingival index (GI), forced expiratory volume in 1 s/forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC) ratio, and FVC mean value were evaluated. The mean FEV1/FVC% value of group 1 was 84.8 ± 2.26, and the mean body mass index (BMI) was 20.8 ± 4.56. The DMFT index of group 2 was found to be 1.7. Based on the GI assessment, 13 athletes were diagnosed with acute gingivitis. The mean BMI of this group was 22.2 ± 3.49. Based on the respiratory test, the mean value of FEV1/FVC% was 85±2.22. The DMFT index of group 3 was 6.7. No significant correlation was found between FEV1/FVC% and oral health problems of group 2. However, a significant correlation was observed between FEV1/FVC% and oral health status of group 3. FEV1/FVC% decreased with poor oral health, indicating that respiratory values were affected when oral health was bad, influencing the athlete's performance negatively.