Oral Health in Athletes: Risks, Prevention, Management, and Education

A special issue of Oral (ISSN 2673-6373).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 March 2027 | Viewed by 1499

Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Restorative Dental Medicine and Endodontics, Study of Dental Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia
Interests: cytotoxicity; genotoxicity; oral diseases
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Athletes across various sports and competitive levels experience diverse—and often underestimated—oral health problems. They are significantly more likely to suffer traumatic dental injuries resulting from direct blows, falls, or other physical contact common in certain sports. Temporomandibular disorders are also more prevalent among athletes, often caused by repeated jaw movements, clenching, stress, and occlusal overload. Dietary habits and lifestyle factors further contribute to these problems. Frequent consumption of sugar- and acid-containing sports drinks, high-carbohydrate diets, and dehydration increase the risk of dental caries and erosion. These oral health issues can not only compromise oral function but also negatively affect sports performance, focus, recovery, and overall quality of life. This Special Issue invites submissions of original clinical, epidemiological, and cross-sectional studies, systematic reviews, and case reports that advance the understanding of the prevalence, risk factors, and impact of oral diseases and dental trauma among athletes. Emphasis will be placed on evidence-based preventive strategies, including custom-made mouthguards, targeted educational interventions, and interdisciplinary collaboration between dentists, sports physicians, coaches, and other stakeholders. The ultimate goal is to improve both oral health and athletic performance through integrated, science-based approaches.

Dr. Antonija Tadin
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • athletes
  • oral health
  • dental trauma
  • dental caries
  • temporomandibular disorders
  • sports drinks
  • dehydration
  • prevention
  • mouthguards

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

18 pages, 281 KB  
Article
Oral Health Status, Preventive Behaviors, and Dental Injury Experience in Croatian Basketball Athletes
by Marija Badrov, Petra Franov and Antonija Tadin
Oral 2026, 6(1), 11; https://doi.org/10.3390/oral6010011 - 12 Jan 2026
Viewed by 1034
Abstract
Objectives: This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate oral health knowledge, self-perceived oral status, hygiene behaviors, prevalence of dental injuries, and mouthguard use among Croatian basketball players and coaches. Materials and Methods: A total of 414 participants of both sexes, spanning various [...] Read more.
Objectives: This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate oral health knowledge, self-perceived oral status, hygiene behaviors, prevalence of dental injuries, and mouthguard use among Croatian basketball players and coaches. Materials and Methods: A total of 414 participants of both sexes, spanning various levels of basketball participation in Croatia, completed an anonymous online questionnaire assessing oral health knowledge, hygiene habits, trauma history, and preventive practices. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square, Mann–Whitney, and Kruskal–Wallis tests. Results: Participants demonstrated generally poor oral health knowledge, with coaches scoring significantly higher than players (p < 0.05), and knowledge levels varying according to education and socioeconomic status (p ≤ 0.001). A majority reported no prior dental trauma (69.6%), and mouthguard use was notably low (20.8%). While regular toothbrushing was prevalent (87%), the use of dental floss was limited (39.9%). The most reported oral health problems included gingival bleeding (37.9%), dental calculus (35.0%), and tooth sensitivity (34.3%). Conclusions: Despite relatively good hygiene habits, Croatian basketball players demonstrated low oral health knowledge and insufficient preventive practices, particularly regarding mouthguard use. These findings indicate the need for targeted education and preventive strategies within the basketball community. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oral Health in Athletes: Risks, Prevention, Management, and Education)
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