Bite of success: Oral health may influence athletic performance
Global sporting events draw crowds not only to witness athletes showcase their skills but also to cheer for their favorite competitors. While hard work, training, and genetics are often linked to athletic success, a new report points to dental health as another factor that may influence sports performance.
An overlooked factor in sports success
A new report commissioned by the European Federation of Periodontology (EFP) and sponsored by Curasept is drawing attention to the connection between oral health and athletic performance, citing growing evidence that dental health can influence outcomes in sports.
Titled Winning Margins: The Impact of Oral Health on Athlete Performance and produced by Economist Enterprise, the report examines how oral health may affect athletic performance through biological, nutritional, and psychological pathways.
While factors such as training, nutrition, hydration, sleep, stress, and genetics remain central to athletic success, the report argues that oral health is often overlooked despite its potential impact on performance.
Professor Nicola West, EFP officer, said growing evidence suggests poor oral health can contribute to inflammation throughout the body. According to West, oral health and athletic performance interact in multiple ways and should be considered as part of an athlete’s overall health strategy.
Athletes, coaches bat for greater awareness
The report features insights from sports professionals, including Fabian Marc Hürzeler, head coach of English Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion. Hürzeler said many athletes continue to underestimate the importance of oral health compared with areas such as nutrition, even though both can influence performance.
British Olympic artistic swimmer and medalist Kate Shortman also emphasized the need for greater awareness. According to Shortman, oral health is not always treated as a priority in elite sports despite its effects on both performance and overall wellbeing.
Evidence points to multiple health and performance effects
The report reviews research showing how oral inflammation may contribute to systemic inflammation throughout the body. It also examines how dental disease and oral pain can affect nutrition, quality of life, and psychological wellbeing.
Researchers further explored how oral conditions may influence neuromuscular function, strength, and balance. The report also identified sport-specific risks, including dental erosion linked to acidic conditions in poorly maintained swimming pools.
According to the publication, improving awareness of oral health is the first step toward better athletic performance. The report said educating athletes, coaches, and sports teams about oral hygiene and regular dental checkups could help improve outcomes.
Sports dentistry gains attention
Professor Moritz Kebschull, EFP past president, said awareness of oral health in sports remains low. Citing available evidence, he said sports organizations should treat sports dentistry as an essential part of athlete care, similar to sports medicine, because good oral health may help prevent injuries and improve performance.
The report highlighted the role of sports dentists in preventing, detecting, and treating conditions such as tooth decay, erosive tooth wear, gum disease, malocclusion, temporomandibular disorders, and sports-related dental injuries. Dentists can also recommend appropriate mouthguards for athletes.
Elizabeth Sukkar, senior research manager at Economist Enterprise and lead researcher for the report, said sports federations have substantial influence over athlete wellbeing through policies and training environments. She said integrating oral health into routine care, education, and prevention programs could help athletes perform better and recover more effectively.
Marta Giovannardi, Clinical Affairs and Quality Manager at Curasept, said dental erosion and other oral health conditions are becoming increasingly common among athletes and may affect both general health and sports performance. She added that dental professionals must continue promoting prevention, patient awareness, and early detection.
Need for collaboration and more research
The report encourages sports organizations, coaches, healthcare professionals, and dental experts to work together to improve awareness, prevention efforts, and access to oral healthcare.
It also identified the need for further research, including long-term studies and more effective tools to measure the impact of oral health on athletic performance.
Professor Anton Sculean, EFP secretary general, said improving sports performance through better oral health requires action from athletes, teams, organizations, and society.
Meanwhile, EFP President Professor Mia Rakić said the organization remains committed to advancing scientific evidence, developing evidence-based recommendations, and promoting awareness of oral health screening and prevention. She added that while athletes may benefit directly from optimal oral health, the broader principles apply to the general population as well.
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