Annimari said, “Throughout the years I have represented Finland as a competitive athlete, there has been no official talk about the importance of oral health in top performances.”
Annimari believes insufficient information is the most significant reason official sporting organisations do not support their athletes' oral health more visibly.
Annimari added, “I hope this situation will change. Studies have shown that oral problems such as gingivitis and periodontitis have been shown to reduce performance significantly.”
Top sport is a risk factor for oral health
Research indicates that elite sport is one of the most significant risk factors for the onset of oral diseases. According to one study, caries is found in up to 70 per cent of competitive athletes, dental erosion in almost 40 per cent and severe gum disease, periodontitis, in up to 15 per cent of top athletes.
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