Dietary and oral hygiene habits of active athletes and adolescents attending ordinary junior high schools

The association between dental caries and physical activity, physical fitness, and background factors among Finnish male conscripts

Studies on measured physical fitness and oral health are sparse. The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between self-reported physical activity and measured physical fitness and oral health of young men. The study population consisted of 13,564 Finnish male conscripts who had mandatory clinical oral examinations and physical fitness tests at the beginning of military service in 2011. Finally, around 10,800 conscripts had physical fitness test outcomes available and a total of 8552 conscripts answered a computer-based questionnaire on background factors. Decayed Tooth (DT) and Decayed, Missing, or Filled Tooth (DMFT) indices, outcomes of surveys and fitness tests were used in analyses by cross-tabulation and multivariable logistic regression model (odds ratios [OR] with 95% confidence interval [CI]) were calculated. Regularly exercising conscripts had a reduced need for dental restorative treatment than those reporting no physical activity (p < 0.0001). The proportion of participants with sound dentition (DT = 0) increased steadily with increasing physical activity (39.0-59.4%). Good measured physical fitness was a protective factor against increased dental restorative treatment need. A low prevalence of smoking and low use of alcohol and energy drinks were associated with frequent exercise, whereas consumption of sport drinks and snuff use were common among those who exercised frequently. Good measured physical fitness and self-reported physical activity are associated with reduced caries burden. There is a need for information about the harms of tobacco products and the benefits of a healthy diet, even for the increased energy needs of the physically active.

The Impact of Sport Training on Oral Health in Athletes

Athletes' oral health appears to be poor in numerous sport activities and different diseases can limit athletic skills, both during training and during competitions. Sport activities can be considered a risk factor, among athletes from different sports, for the onset of oral diseases, such as caries with an incidence between 15% and 70%, dental trauma 14-70%, dental erosion 36%, pericoronitis 5-39% and periodontal disease up to 15%. The numerous diseases are related to the variations that involve the ecological factors of the oral cavity such as salivary pH, flow rate, buffering capability, total bacterial count, cariogenic bacterial load and values of secretory Immunoglobulin A. The decrease in the production of S-IgA and the association with an important intraoral growth of pathogenic bacteria leads us to consider the training an "open window" for exposure to oral cavity diseases. Sports dentistry focuses attention on the prevention and treatment of oral pathologies and injuries. Oral health promotion strategies are needed in the sports environment. To prevent the onset of oral diseases, the sports dentist can recommend the use of a custom-made mouthguard, an oral device with a triple function that improves the health and performance of athletes. During training, the sports dentist must monitor the athletes and the sports examination protocol must be implemented with the inclusion of the clinical examination, quantitative and qualitative analysis of saliva and instructions on the use, cleansing and storage of the mouthguard.

EVALUATION OF THE ORAL HEALTH CONDITIONS OF VOLLEYBALL ATHLETES

ABSTRACT Introduction Dental care can improve athletes’ performance, promoting oral health and preventing changes that could disrupt their sports routine. Objective To evaluate the dental conditions, habits, and oral health care of volleyball athletes, and their knowledge of the importance of oral health in sports performance. Methods Sixty-four male athletes participated in the study: 40 from the basic categories (16 ± 3 years) and 24 professionals (25 ± 5 years). For the assessment of oral conditions, changes in the temporomandibular joint, history of facial and dental trauma, and the presence of malocclusions and orthodontic treatment were verified. Hygiene was measured by the visible plaque index. To determine the athletes’ oral hygiene, they were asked how many times per day they brushed their teeth, flossed their teeth, or used oral mouthwash. Finally, we evaluated the athletes’ opinions concerning the importance of oral health and sports performance. Data analysis was performed using the Mann-Whitney and Fisher’s Exact tests, with a significance level of 5%. Results For most of the parameters evaluated, similar results were found between professional and baseline athletes (p> 0.05). However, for the parameters “flossing” (p = 0.0027) and “facial/dental trauma” (p = 0.0444), significant differences were observed (p <0.05) between the categories of athletes. Conclusion We conclude that professional athletes are more prone to facial/dental trauma, and that the presence of a dental surgeon to assist the team improves athletes’ overall oral health. Level of evidence II; Retrospective study.

Consumption of snacks and dental caries among Finnish young men: a cross-sectional epidemiological study

The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of consumption of snack products, as well as the association between snacking and restorative treatment need, and associated factors among a healthy Finnish male population. Approximately 8500 conscripts answered a computer-based questionnaire covering their snacking habits and other health behaviours. Restorative treatment need and history (DT, DMFT) were examined by trained and calibrated dentists. Cross-tabulations were used to investigate the associations between snacking habits and the other researched variables, and logistic regression analyses (odds ratio and 95% confidence interval) were used to investigate the variables influencing the restorative treatment need. In the present study, almost one-third of the study group consumed snack products daily, most often fizzy and energy drinks. Only 10% had received a diet counselling. The most common situations involving snacking were at the cinema and while playing computer games. According to Pearson’s Chi square test, snacking was associated with smoking and snuffing and infrequent tooth brushing (p < 0.001). According to the regression analyses, daily snacking, smoking, and doing exercise daily increased the odds for restorative treatment need whereas higher education level and tooth brushing twice or more often per day decreased the odds for restorative treatment need. It can be concluded that daily snacking is common among Finnish young men and is associated with restorative treatment need. Snacking is also associated with other harmful oral and general health habits. Individual dietary counselling should be routinely offered to everybody in dental clinics.

Association of dietary habits with restorative dental treatment need and BMI among Finnish conscripts: a cross-sectional epidemiological study

OBJECTIVE

Processed foods and fatty, sugary snacking products, such as fizzy drinks and desserts, have become more popular, causing a desire to replace meals with snacks worldwide. High-sugar and fat-rich food components have been reported to be associated with increased level of dental caries as well as underweight and overweight. The aim of the present cross-sectional population-based study was to analyse the eating behaviours of young, healthy Finnish males in association with oral health and BMI, considering self-reported and residential background factors.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Finnish Defence Forces, Finland.

PARTICIPANTS

The used clinical data were gathered from 13 564 Finnish conscripts born in the beginning of the 1990s through clinical check-ups. In addition, about 8700 of the conscripts answered a computer-assisted questionnaire ('Oral Health of the Conscripts 2011' data) about their background information and health habits.

RESULTS

There was distinct variation in dietary patterns. Eating breakfast, regular physical exercise and daily tooth brushing all decreased the odds for restorative dental treatment need (decayed teeth), whereas smoking and drinking fizzy drinks for quenching thirst increased it. Eating breakfast and dinner were each associated with lower BMI, but smoking increased the odds for higher BMI (≥25 kg/m2).

CONCLUSIONS

Regular, proper meals and especially eating breakfast decreased the odds for both dental caries and high BMI (≥25 kg/m2).

The effect of swimming on oral health status: competitive versus non-competitive athletes

Young swimmers are particularly susceptible to the onset of oral diseases.

A theory-guided school-based intervention in order to improve adolescents' oral self-care: a cluster randomized trial

AIM

To evaluate the efficiency of social-cognitive theory-guided oral hygiene interventions in adolescents and to identify predictors of adolescents' self-care practice.

DESIGN

A cluster randomized trial included 197 15- to 16-year-olds from two secondary schools. The intervention group received three face-to-face educational hands-on sessions facilitated by a dentist and adolescents worked in pairs. Individual dental plaque levels were measured at baseline, after intervention, at six and at 12 months. The structured questionnaire inquired about gender, family socio-economic status (baseline), and different social-cognitive domain variables (baseline, six, and 12 months).

RESULTS

At baseline, there were no statistically significant differences in dental plaque scores between the intervention and control groups (P = 0.183). At the 6-month follow-up, the intervention group had significantly less dental plaque than the control group (P = 0.047), but the intergroup difference in dental plaque levels was not significant at the 12-month follow-up (P = 0.400). Variations in dental plaque levels at different time periods were explained by the following predictors: family's socio-economic status, social-cognitive domain variables, group affiliation, and baseline plaque levels.

CONCLUSIONS

Social-cognitive theory-guided interventions improved oral self-care of adolescents in the short term. After the intervention was discontinued, the improvement in oral self-care of adolescents lasted for another 5 months.