{"title":"The value of oral health screening for athletes.","authors":"Julie Gallagher, Peter Fine","doi":"10.1080/15438627.2025.2532535","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Oral health problems have been reported by athletes to negatively affect their performance, therefore improved oral health has the potential to enhance performance. Reduced performance due to poor oral health is unacceptable and preventable. A rapid literature review was undertaken. Oral diseases such as caries, erosive tooth wear and periodontal diseases do not present with pain in their early stages, and athletes may delay a dental check or even treatment until they perceive a problem. Oral health promotion in sport is most likely to be successful if it is embedded within overall athlete general health and performance promotion. Most members of the athlete support team are not experts in this area and therefore specialist input is needed. Regular checks, provided through oral health screening, are important, not only to identify oral diseases at an early stage but as an opportunity to enhance motivation towards a high standard of oral health.</p>","PeriodicalId":20958,"journal":{"name":"Research in Sports Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"1-10"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9000,"publicationDate":"2025-07-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Research in Sports Medicine","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15438627.2025.2532535","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"SPORT SCIENCES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Oral health problems have been reported by athletes to negatively affect their performance, therefore improved oral health has the potential to enhance performance. Reduced performance due to poor oral health is unacceptable and preventable. A rapid literature review was undertaken. Oral diseases such as caries, erosive tooth wear and periodontal diseases do not present with pain in their early stages, and athletes may delay a dental check or even treatment until they perceive a problem. Oral health promotion in sport is most likely to be successful if it is embedded within overall athlete general health and performance promotion. Most members of the athlete support team are not experts in this area and therefore specialist input is needed. Regular checks, provided through oral health screening, are important, not only to identify oral diseases at an early stage but as an opportunity to enhance motivation towards a high standard of oral health.
期刊介绍:
Research in Sports Medicine is a broad journal that aims to bridge the gap between all professionals in the fields of sports medicine. The journal serves an international audience and is of interest to professionals worldwide. The journal covers major aspects of sports medicine and sports science - prevention, management, and rehabilitation of sports, exercise and physical activity related injuries. The journal publishes original research utilizing a wide range of techniques and approaches, reviews, commentaries and short communications.