When it comes to performing at the highest level, any good habit or routine adds up and, by the same rule of three, any negative factor, however small, can subtract. Also when we talk about something as -a priori- alien to sport as a smile may seem. However, there are several studies that have focused on the invisible thread that links the good physical performance of an athlete with their oral health. So much so that, as Dr. Khaled Kasem, orthodontist and co-founder of Impress, points out, “a smile is part of an athlete’s team.”
Can an athlete be more vulnerable to muscle injuries if they do not maintain proper dental health? Yes, “although the correlation between oral health and sports practice is not the most obvious in the eyes of the world.” In the same way that an athlete never neglects his racket, his football boots or his diet, he should not neglect his dental health in general and his smile in particular, as this can also influence -and a lot- performance. of the.
Among the factors that can affect physical performance is dental misalignment. A misaligned bite or malocclusion problems, such as a crossbite, interfere with the proper function and performance of the jaw and facial muscles. This can affect the athlete’s ability to breathe properly, speak clearly, or even swallow efficiently, which could affect rest, eating, and endurance.
According to Dr. Kasem, there are several pathologies associated with poor oral health that can have a significant impact on the performance of an athlete, from diseases that are more worrisome in terms of health, to issues more related to aesthetics. In fact, the pain and discomfort caused by infections such as cavities are enough to destabilize and affect the athlete’s concentration, just as much as any other type of pain, be it head or knee.
In the case of dental infections, the orthodontist co-founder of the chain of invisible orthodontic clinics in Europe, Impress, estimates that they can reduce the athlete’s performance by approximately 22% and, in addition to pain, also increases the danger of affecting essential joints and tendons. As for malocclusion, it is responsible for causing joint imbalances and muscle asymmetries that can condition the correct behavior of other muscles.
Specifically, the head, neck and spine are key elements for a correct posture and execution of movements, so misaligned teeth, a bad bite or a poorly positioned jaw will fully affect stability when executing such actions. such as running, jumping, or changing direction quickly. “I can guarantee that if an athlete does not take care of his oral health, he will be more susceptible to muscle injuries,” says Dr. Kasem.
Beyond the physical plane, it is worth noting the power of the smile as an aesthetic weapon capable of improving the athlete’s confidence. “In many cases, the insecurity of a misaligned or unhealthy smile can affect an athlete’s self-esteem to the point of fearing to show it,” adds the chief orthodontist at Impress, who resolves: “Lack of confidence will always be the Achilles heel of many athletes who could go further”.
The preparation of an elite athlete is precisely a combination of physical, tactical and mental aspects, and goes beyond improving resistance, strength, speed, flexibility and agility. The human body works as a whole, so no part can be neglected. Neither, oral health. In the Impress chain of clinics they know first-hand the benefits of a healthy and correctly aligned smile for elite athletes, since they accompany athletes from different disciplines in their physical activity with invisible orthodontic treatments.
Many of Impress’s patients are elite athletes undergoing world-renowned treatments. The latest to join this good practice are the Queens League 1K players, thus complementing their weekly preparation program with three hours of training divided into two days. They always work a more specific first part with a physical trainer, and then they plan the training sessions based on their game system and the rival they face, with video clips displayed so that the players learn from their mistakes and successes and can study those of the rival.
“We try to work a lot on group cohesion so that everyone can get to know each other more thoroughly. That helps us to be more of a team inside and outside the locker room”, explain the 1K FC girls, who have a carefully designed training plan, which pays special attention to mental and emotional preparation and aspects such as nutrition, diet, rest and recovery. Also dental health, for which they recommend invisible and removable aligners, which adapt perfectly to your rhythm.
As the orthodontist Khaled Kasem points out, the aligners allow the athlete to carry out their training safely without the risk of injury, since, unlike other traditional treatments, they do not have wires that can cause injuries and represent a greater danger. And, if they prefer, “they can take them off during a more physical or demanding test and put them back on after the test.” One more reason that places him as a silent and invisible ally, but key to victory.
