Sick gums are related to more fatigue and muscle contractures and slower recovery from injuries. “I am a different person physically and psychologically since I changed dentists.”
That’s what Roma right-back Leonardo Spinazzola says clearly. “Now I can do a lot of exercises and be at my best for the 90 minutes.”
Indeed, it’s no nonsense: if you want to improve your sports performance, start with the health of your mouth!
While playing sports has a positive influence on oral health, several studies show that diseased teeth and gums can hinder your sports practice.
We explain why it happens!
Sport benefits us.
So much so that at Clínica Cervera, we encourage and support it through collaborations such as the sponsorship of the Uni Girona women’s basketball club.
Practicing it regularly is usually part of a healthy lifestyle, and limits the risks of suffering from diseases in our body and, specifically, in the mouth.
This is because it has a clear anti-inflammatory effect and improves our immune system.
There is, for example, a relationship between obesity, good physical health and diseased gums (periodontitis): people with a lower body mass index and higher oxygen consumption during exercise tend to have healthier gums.
On the contrary, it has been shown that obesity can be a risk factor for periodontitis.
Why does a sick mouth affect performance?
The health of the mouth is connected to that of the rest of the body.
Many of the diseases that we could suffer from in the mouth have their reflection in the body and could end up affecting sports performance: Periodontitis > Muscle contractures, muscle fatigue and slower recovery from muscle injuries There is solid scientific evidence that ensures that periodontal disease (commonly called “pyorrhea”) affects both the gums and the rest of the body, generating an inflammatory effect that favors the appearance and development of diseases as important as cardiovascular diseases (including myocardial infarction), diabetes, respiratory infections or problems in pregnancy (such as premature birth).
Therefore, it is not surprising that sports performance can also be affected by gum health.
Specifically, periodontitis is related to a greater risk of muscle contractures, muscle fatigue and slower recovery from muscle injuries.
Bruxism > Muscle contractures in the neck and shoulders and headaches The physical and psychological effort of athletes generates tension that can make them clench or grind their teeth involuntarily (bruxism), wearing them out and overloading the temporomandibular joint, in addition to causing dental sensitivity.
All of this, in turn, causes muscle contractions in the neck and shoulder area and headaches, limiting movements and affecting sports performance.
Dental caries > Poor chewing and, therefore, poor nutrition and decreased energy power. Several studies have shown that elite athletes have a particularly high rate of caries, and it could be due to the diet they follow, abundant in carbohydrates and isotonic drinks, smoothies and juices, which are very acidic for the enamel.
A diet that, moreover, is increasingly followed by more and more sports fans and not exclusively by top athletes.
If these cavities are not treated in time, the affected teeth may require root canal treatment or extraction, depending on the severity.
Throughout this process and even afterwards, if the tooth is not treated or repaired, food will not be chewed properly and, as a consequence, could lead to a lack of nutrients and a decrease in the athlete’s energy power.
Good sports performance requires a healthy mouth.
Fortunately, diseases that affect our smile are easy to prevent with good oral hygiene and regular check-ups with your dentist.
Take care of your mouth and boost your performance! + info: Clínica Cervera, new sponsor of the Uni Girona women’s basketball club