Some academy footballers in England have been left unable to train because of dental problems, according to a new study which found three-quarters of participants are suffering with gum disease.
The study from researchers at University College London (UCL) asked 160 academy players representing 10 English football clubs from the Premier League, Championship and Women’s Super League to answer a questionnaire about their oral health and its impact on sporting performance, alongside a clinical assessment by a dentist.
It found young male and female players are more likely to have major problems with tooth decay and poor oral hygiene than non-footballers of a similar age.
Dr Saul Konviser, one of the authors of the study published in the British Medical Journal, told the BBC there now needs to be a “multi-factor” approach in order to deal with the issue, including greater education on the cardiovascular issues linked with oral diseases and more routine dental care for players.
“We feel this is a great opportunity to take this evidence so we can advise and support medical teams at clubs,” he said.
“I think it is an opportunity for sporting bodies to take action – we don’t want negative dental health to impact sporting performance. There needs to be greater understanding that mouth is part of the body.
“We had players at screenings complaining of dental pain, bleeding gums, saying they were unable to train at some points because of dental infections. Once there has been trauma there can be ongoing problems, including with their ability and willingness to compete.”
Factors identified included poor hygiene habits such as a lack of brushing and flossing, high levels of sugary sports and fizzy drink consumption, and stress – possibly due to a high-performance environment – which can cause teeth grinding and lead to decay.
The study also suggested some cases of tooth wear were related to gastric acids, with dental screenings revealing patterns similar to those from acid reflux and even in eating disorders like bulimia.
