Why Elite Sport is Getting Serious About Oral Health

This new focus is a direct response to a growing body of evidence showing that poor oral health is a significant, preventable liability. Data from major events like the London 2012 Olympic Games revealed a stark picture: 18% of athletes reported their performance was negatively impacted by oral issues.² Later, a more comprehensive study found this number was even higher, with nearly a third (32%) of elite athletes reporting that their performance was compromised by oral health issues.³

It is now a well-documented fact that oral health problems can trigger a body-wide response that directly undermines athletic performance by slowing muscle repair and recovery, and can also increase the risk of reinjuries.^4-6

This new understanding has led to an evolution in how sporting support teams are structured. As the Academy for Sports Dentistry explains, the dentist is no longer an outside consultant but a core member of a ‘Trusted Triad’ with the athletic trainer and the coach.⁷

This collaborative model allows for a holistic approach to athletic health, where the team can establish personalised dental care plans that include proactive screenings, proper brushing techniques, regular professional teeth cleaning, and the use of antibacterial dental products such as  toothpaste and mouthwash to maintain peak oral health.^7-10

The mandates for elite sports professionals signal that the world's best are catching on: a healthy athlete is a high-performing athlete, and true athletic health is incomplete without excellent oral health. This new holistic approach is a direct response to a growing body of scientific evidence. It represents an evolution in performance strategy where achieving peak oral health is now considered fundamental to unlocking peak performance.

[References]

1. beIN Sports. Why Hansi Flick Demands Dental Exams for Barcelona Players, July 2024. Available at: https://www.academyforsportsdentistry.org/how-team-dentists-collaborate-with-coaches-and-athletic-trainers-to-support-athlete-wellness. Accessed March 2026.

2. Needleman et al. Oral health and impact on performance of athletes participating in the London 2012 Olympic Games: a cross-sectional study. Br J Sports Med 2013;47(16):1054–8.

3. Gallagher J et al. Oral health and performance impacts in elite and professional athletes. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 2018;46(6):563–568.

4. Cecoro et al. Periodontitis, Low-Grade Inflammation and Systemic Health: A Scoping Review. Medicina (Kaunas) 2020;56(6):272.

5. Bramantoro T et al. The impact of oral health on physical fitness: A systematic review. Heliyon 2020;6(4):e03774.

6. Solleveld H, Goedhart A and Vanden Bossche L. Associations between poor oral health and reinjuries in male elite soccer players: a cross-sectional self-report study. BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil 2015;7:11.

7. Academy for Sports Dentistry. How Team Dentists Collaborate with Coaches and Athletic Trainers to Support Athlete Wellness. Available at: https://www.academyforsportsdentistry.org/how-team-dentists-collaborate-with-coaches-and-athletic-trainers-to-support-athlete-wellness. Accessed March 2026.

8. FDI World Dental Federation (2019). Sports Dentistry: Guidelines for elite athletes. Available at: https://www.fdiworlddental.org/guidelines-elite-athletes. Accessed March 2026.

9. FDI World Dental Federation (2019). Sports Dentistry: Guidelines for dentists and sports medicine physicians. Available at: https://www.fdiworlddental.org/guidelines-dentists-and-sports-medicine-physicians. Accessed March 2026.

10. Nicholson JW. Stannous Fluoride in Toothpastes: A Review of Its Clinical Effects and Likely Mechanisms of Action. J Funct Biomater 2025;16(3):73.