19/01/2026
The most overlooked performance system in elite sport is the mouth.
We talk nonstop about muscles, recovery, sleep, and workload —
but oral health is still treated like an “extra,” even though it can quietly affect performance, recovery, injury risk, and overall wellbeing.
A review in Research in Sports Medicine reinforces why routine oral screening should be standard in athletes:
50%+ of elite athletes have untreated dental caries
Gingivitis / periodontal inflammation can be present in up to 75%
Dental erosion is common (sports drinks, gels, dehydration, dry mouth + acidic pH)
Many athletes report reduced sleep quality, eating comfort, focus, and training output due to oral issues
The real problem:
Early oral disease is often painless — especially root infections / periapical changes — so athletes don’t act until performance is already being affected.
This isn’t “just dental.”
It’s a systemic inflammatory and metabolic issue.
Chronic periodontal inflammation is associated with:
low-grade systemic inflammation
impaired glycaemic control
immune dysregulation
increased physiological stress load
At the elite level, small stressors become big performance differences.
The good news:
Oral disease is largely preventable
Screening is simple, fast, and low-cost
The IOC has recommended oral evaluation as part of the Periodic Health Examination for years — yet it’s still inconsistently implemented
High performers can look “healthy” while carrying hidden stressors.
If you ignore one weak link, it eventually costs you.
Elite performance demands attention to every system — even the ones we overlook.
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