Athletes and Dental Health

The Vermont Patriots partnered with Timberlane Dental Group to bring you some talking points about dental health and athletic performance. The connection between oral and body health is strong and mirrors that relationship. A healthy mouth boosts quality of life and well-being which are a great start to an athlete’s day.

Vibrant oral health influences various aspects of overall health, which includes mind and body. A great smile may boost self-esteem and confidence, while alleviate anxiety.

Poor dentition may directly cause illnesses such as persistent inflammations which can make an athlete underperform. Furthermore, it can cause diabetes, pneumonia, heart disease, including life-threatening endocarditis.

Athletes can take many easy-to-implement preventative measures to maintain their oral health. It is not the occasional Nutella or the ice cream truck that causes the damage, but rather repetitive behaviors, such as not brushing teeth or drinking sugary drinks instead of water on a daily basis.

1. Brush your teeth.
2. Floss your teeth.
3. Visit your dentist regularly.
4. Eat a balanced diet – including veggies, fruits, meats, grains, beans, milk and cheese.
5. Drink Water, while avoiding acidic & sugary sports drinks.
6. Stay overall hydrated.
7. Protect your teeth – mouth guards.

Here are some answers to some common questions about dental visits and other useful info:

https://www.timberlanedental.com/pediatric-dental-faqs

https://www.fdiworlddental.org/sites/default/files/media/resources/sports_dentistry-guidelines_amateurs.pdf

https://www.aapd.org/resources/parent/faq/

https://www.2min2x.org/

So long Friends, until next healthy update.

VTP TEAM