REPOST: Olympic Athletes Bomb on Oral Hygiene

Olympians undergo a constant series of stringent physical exams to ensure their readiness for competition. An article on TIME suggests that the focus on their bodies may actually be leaving their teeth neglected.

Japan's Fumiyuki Beppu leads the breakaway during the Men's Road Race Road Cycling on day 1 of the London 2012 Olympic Games on July 28, 2012 in London, England. | Image source: TIME

Olympic athletes are at the top of their game when it comes to their physique, but not so much for oral hygiene. New research from the British Journal of Sports Medicine reveals that elite athletes tend to have more cavities, tooth erosion and gum disease than others of a similar age.

Surveying athletes who attended the dental clinic at the 2012 Olympic Games in London for free check-ups and mouth guards, researchers at the University College London (UCL) found a fifth of visitors said that oral health affected training and performance and more than 40 percent were “bothered” by their oral health. Of the 302 athletes surveyed (with data available for 278) from Africa, the Americas and Europe, more than half of respondents had cavities, including 45 percent with dental erosion and 76 percent showed signs of gingivitis.

Though the data is confined to only those visiting the Olympic Village clinic, the researchers assert that the findings are consistent with previous studies. Olympic athlete’s high intensity performance includes consuming large amounts of carbohydrates as well as sugary drinks. Ian Needleman, a professor at UCL who spearheaded the study, said that extreme training places stress on the immune system leaving athletes at high risk of oral disease, the BBC reports. The study also notes that half of the athletes examined had not had a dental examination the year before.

Previous research found that inflammation elsewhere in the body can affect the likelihood of injury as well as recovery time. Researchers have even linked a higher risk of heart attacks among people who do not brush their teeth twice a day (which results in inflamed gums).

As an experienced dental surgeon, Dr. Domenick Coletti would recognize the signs of gum and tooth decay early on and educate patients on better oral hygiene. Click 'Like' on this Facebook page for more updates about dental care.

REPOST: Two Important Lessons from My Much-Procrastinated Trip to the Dentist

Many people have an aversion to visiting the dentist.  But the experience has its perks, and can teach a thing or two about teeth and more.  In her Forbes article, writer Gretchen Rubin shared the epiphany she had during a trip to the dentist.

Yesterday, I finally went to the dentist. I was due for a check-up in July, and for the last eight months, I’ve been moving the reminder card around my office and coming up with new excuses about why I couldn’t make an appointment.

I made the appointment last Thursday, went in, and the whole process took thirty-eight minutes from the time I picked up a magazine in the waiting room to the time I walked out the door holding my bag with freebie toothbrush and floss. I walked the twenty-five blocks to get there, too, on this beautiful spring afternoon, so even half of my travel time was well-spent.

From this experience, I draw two lessons for myself — both of which were quite apparent to me, although I neglected to act on them:

•  Procrastination is itself draining. That reminder card cluttered up my office and cluttered up my brain. Repeatedly thinking “I should…no, I’ll wait…but I really should…but not now…I’ll do it later…” etc. just weighs me down. Just do it! Or decide when I’ll do it, and then do it when that time comes.  

• I have plenty of time for the things that are important to me. I kept telling myself, “I don’t have time to go to the dentist.” Really? For eight months? During that time, I went on vacation, got my hair cut, met friends for coffee, and went on kindergarten field trips, so clearly I’m not so pressed for time that I can do nothing but work. The fact is, it wasn’t a priority — which is fine. But I should be honest with myself.

I’ve found that saying “I’m too busy” makes me feel harried and distracted. Now, instead, I tell myself, “I have plenty of time for the things that are important to me.” It’s more important to me to go to the bread factory with the kindergarten class than to go to the dentist. That’s my choice. But telling myself that I “don’t have time” makes me feel out of control.

Do you find that procrastinating makes you feel drained and overwhelmed? And yet it’s so hard just to do those things which ought to be done, without delay. Two of my Twelve Personal Commandments are Do it now and Do what ought to be done, and yet I struggle with this mightily.

* I keep thinking about this post from Love That Max — “a blog about kids with special needs (and the parents who adore them).” In Helping kids with special needs fit in: I did not buy the purple Crocs, Ellen wrote about deciding not to buy the purple Crocs that she knew her son would love like crazy, to help him in a way that he couldn’t see. I think this is an issue for all parents — resisting the delight of doing something that will make our children very happy, in the present, out of love.

Based in Maryland, Dr. Domenick Coletti is an expert in many surgical procedures, including placement of dental implants and corrective jaw surgery.  This Twitter page contains more details about his work.