The relation between performance and oral health in male athletes

Authors : Hakan YAPICI, Oğuz EROĞLU, Sinan AYAN, Serdar BAĞLAR, Uğur Altay MEMİŞ, Ali Ahmet DOĞAN

Pages : 1007-1013

Doi:10.18621/eurj.432272

View : 14 | Download : 10

Publication Date : 2019-11-04

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Objectives: Oral health is as important to an athlete’s sporting successas regular exercise and adequate nutrition . The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between oral health and sporting performance. Methods: This prospective study was carried out with male athletes. Athletes` demographic characteristics, dental care habits, number of decayed, missing or filled teeth, and sporting performance data were recorded. The Decayed Missing Filled Teeth insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(DMFT); index, Significant Caries index insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(SCI); and Plaque index insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(PI); were used to assess oral health. The T-Drill, Zig-Zag, Lateral Change of Direction insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(LCD); and 505 tests to assess agility, and 10-, 20- and 30-m short sprint tests were used to assess speed. The results were analyzed on SPSS software, and p values < 0.05 were regarded as significant. Results: Ninety-six athletes were included in the study. Active caries was determined in 70.8%. The mean DMFT index value was 3.9 ± 3.7, mean SCI 10.2, and mean PI 0.9 ± 0.4. DMFT was  ≥ 4 in 45.8% of athletes and < 4 in 57.2%. No difference was determined between subjects with DMFT < 4 and DMFT ≥ 4 in terms of age, height, body weight, or years engaged in sports. Agility and speed tests results were superior in subjects with DMFT<4 than in those with DMFT ≥ 4, and times to completion of performance tests were shorter insert ignore into journalissuearticles values( p < 0.05);. Pearson correlation analysis revealed that DMFT was positively correlated with agility tests [T-Drill test insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(r = 0.428);, Zig-Zag test insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(r = 0.428);, LCD test insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(r = 0.286); and 505 test insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(r = 0.529);], and speed tests [short sprint, 10-m insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(r = 0.309);, 20-m insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(r = 0.336);, 30-m insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(r = 0.449);] insert ignore into journalissuearticles values( p < 0.05);. Conclusion: Impairment of oral health has an adverse effect on sporting performance, and this can lead to poorer results in performance tests such as agility and speed. 
Keywords : Athletes, athletic performance, oral health, tooth