Oral Health and Physical Activity in Athletic Populations

Athletes represent a unique cohort in which high levels of physical exertion coincide with distinctive oral health challenges. Regular training and competition may alter salivary flow and composition, reduce immunoglobulin concentrations and expose enamel to acidic environments through frequent consumption of sports and energy drinks. Such factors can promote dental caries, erosive tooth wear and periodontal inflammation. Conversely, poor oral health can impair nutritional intake, exacerbate systemic inflammation and even diminish physical performance. Recent research has begun to characterise the bidirectional interplay between exercise-induced physiological changes and oral disease processes. Key determinants include training intensity, dietary habits, hydration strategies and individual salivary biomarkers. Preventive approaches—ranging from bespoke mouthguards and tailored nutritional counselling to routine oral screening—are emerging as critical components of athlete health programmes. Understanding this nexus has global significance: oral disease is prevalent in elite and recreational athletes alike, and its management carries implications for both sporting success and long-term wellbeing. An integrated model of sports dentistry emphasises interdisciplinary collaboration among dentists, nutritionists and sports scientists to mitigate risk, optimise oral defences and support athletic performance.

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Oral Health and Physical Activity in Athletic Populations publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in oral health and physical activity in athletic populations across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Periodontitis: A chronic inflammatory condition affecting the gums and supporting structures of the teeth.

Dental caries: Demineralisation of tooth enamel and dentine by acid-producing oral bacteria.

DMFT index: A count of decayed, missing and filled permanent teeth used to assess caries experience.

Salivary biomarkers: Enzymes, ions or proteins in saliva that reflect oral or systemic physiological changes.

Erosive tooth wear: Loss of tooth surface due to chemical dissolution by acids not involving bacterial action.

References

1. State of oral health and the impact of regular physical activity on selected salivary parameters in young athletes in relation to the sport-specific environment.. Dental and Medical Problems (2025).
2. Physical activity as a modifiable risk factor for periodontal disease. Frontiers in Oral Health (2023).
3. Physical Activity Reduces the Prevalence of Periodontal Disease: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Frontiers in Physiology (2019).
4. The impact of oral health on physical fitness: A systematic review. Heliyon (2020).
5. Sports and Energy Drink Consumption, Oral Health Problems and Performance Impact among Elite Athletes. Nutrients (2022).