Can a Dirty Mouth Make You Weak and Slow?

Can a Dirty Mouth Make You Weak and Slow?

Your teeth need rigorous training, too.

Don’t forget to floss: Poor oral health could negatively impact your athletic performance—even if you’re in peak physical shape, says a new British study.

At last year’s Summer Olympics in London, 55 percent of international athletes reported suffering from tooth decay, and more than 75 percent were found to have gingivitis, or early stage gum disease. What’s more, one in five competitors said their messy mouths may have messed with their training and final results.

What gives? Lead study author Ian Needleman, Ph.D., points to three possible explanations:

• Direct effect: The physical pain and sensitivity from dental decay, erosion, gum disease, and infection could affect your ability to train, Needleman says.
• Psychological impacts: Poor oral health can have a variety of negative effects on your confidence and quality of life, potentially derailing your focus.
• Systematic inflammation: “Oral infection and gum disease cause levels of inflammation in the rest of your body to increase, which increases your risk of injury and may impair healing and muscle recovery,” says Needleman.

So if even the best athletes in the world can fall victim to bad brushing, it can happen to weekend warriors, too. Stay on top of your teeth by keeping your date with your dentist.

If you liked this story, you’ll love these:

• 12 Foods Your Dentist Won’t Eat
• Does Gum Disease Cause Arthritis?
• The #1 Reason to Keep Your Mouth Clean

Powered by WPeMatico