Occurrence of dental caries, the prevalence of hygiene and dietary habits, and the influence of the workout session on the selected parameters of saliva in youth swimmers.

Abstract

Background: Poor oral health can affect the overall health of the body, which may result in suboptimal performance in sports.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the occurrence of tooth decay, the prevalence of hygiene and dietary habits, and the influence of the workout session on the selected salivary parameters in youth swimmers.

Material and methods: The study involved 40 adolescents, aged 12-15 years (mean age: 13 ±0.5 years), including 30 competitive swimmers and 10 controls. The decayed, missing and filled teeth index (DMFT) was assessed. Data on oral hygiene and dietary habits was collected through a questionnaire created by the authors. Salivary samples were collected from all subjects in the morning and in the afternoon, and from swimmers before and after training. The salivary flow rate (V), pH, buffering capacity, and calcium (Ca) level were measured.

Results: The DMFT in the group of swimmers was 4.5 ±3.54, which was significantly higher than in the control group (1.6 ±2.59) (p = 0.0007). There were no statistically significant differences in oral hygiene habits between the 2 groups. However, swimmers significantly more often consumed chocolate bars (p = 0.004), energy drinks (p = 0.017) and water (p = 0.002) as compared to the control group. Among the consumed beverages, significantly more sweet carbonated drinks were consumed by swimmers than controls (p = 0.026). After the workout session, both in the morning and in the afternoon, there was a significant decrease in V (p = 0.006 and p = 0.009, respectively) and a significant increase in the Ca level (p = 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively) in swimmers. While comparing swimmers before training with the control group in the morning, significantly higher V (p = 0.012) and lower pH (p = 0.003) were observed in swimmers. In the afternoon, significantly lower pH was found in swimmers (p = 0.006).

Conclusions: Oral health prevention and promotion should be an important aspect of sports participation, through greater awareness of the impact of oral hygiene and diet on overall health, which can influence sports performance.