Oral Health Should be a Priority for Athletes, Orange County Dental Care Advise

Newport Beach, CA, December 31, 2014 (Newswire.com) - Oral health is a subject that is regularly promoted by doctors and dentists alike, and while it is true that all people need to engage in regular dental care and proactive check-ups, a recent study just uncovered that athletes, as a whole, are a group that is deemed “at risk” when considering overall dental health.  Dr. Al-Reza, president and chief dentist at Orange County Dental Care, weighs in on this information and offers some very specific advice for athletes and endurance athletes.

“All individuals need to take proper precautions when it comes to their oral health.  This means that it is important to always be brushing, flossing, and engaging in regular dental office visits,” stated Dr. Al-Reza Etemadieh of Orange County Dental Care.  “However, this recent study by Dr. Sharon Colvin at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry makes some great points, especially as it pertains to what athletes put their mouths through.”

The study notes that while the majority of athletes do face regular bodily injury with their sport, this group is also more meticulous about their self-care, leading to better overall health.  However, oral problems arise not through the threat of bodily harm, but because of the food and drink that athletes put in their mouths.  There is considerable extra sugar found in sports drinks like Gatorade as well as in protein shakes or meal replacement bars.  This extra sugar is used to boost the energy of an athlete, and while it is unlikely that an athlete will turn this sugar into fat—it is probable that the sugar will manifest itself in the form of an oral health problem.  Combine this extra sugar consumption with the condition of dry mouth, and a perfect situation is created for tooth decay.

“Dry mouth is a condition where the normal flow of saliva is reduced or absent.  This happens regularly with endurance athletes who are breathing through their mouth,” noted Dr. Etemadieh, a Dentist in the city of Orange, California.  “When a person doesn’t have normal salivary flow, food that remains in the mouth after a meal isn’t washed away, and acid is produced that is not neutralized.  Athletes have to remember that saliva is one of the first lines of defense for the immune system.”

Experts advise athletes that there are safe alternatives to staying hydrated while also protecting oral health during sports training.  Water is the safest thirst quencher by far, but if a sports drinkis preferred, Orange County dentists, including Dr. Etemadieh of Orange County Dental Care, encourage the consumption of low-sugar sports drinks.

“Low-sugar sports drinks allow for proper hydration along with the carbs and electrolytes that are needed for an athlete to keep up their energy,” advised Dr. Etemadieh.  “Of course, in lieu of all of this, it is important for athletes to make sure they are seeing their dentist regularly.  A dental professional will not only ensure that tooth decay is not present, but will also screen for other oral health problems, thereby making sure that the athlete is healthy all around.”

Those interested in more details about Orange County Dental Care can find the office online at www.orangecountydentalcare.com.

ABOUT:

Orange County Dental Care is a general dentistry practice led by Dr. Ali-Reza Etemadieh that is located in city of Orange, California. The practice specializes in general dentistry for adults and children, pedodontics, orthodontics, periodontics, oral surgery, and endodontics and. The state-of-the-art Orange County dental office has excellent reviews and track record. Orange County Dental Care is located at 665 North Tustin Street, Ste. W, Orange, California 92867.  The staff can be reached by calling 714-628-9910 Monday through Friday between the hours of 9am and 5pm and on Saturday between 9am and 3pm.  The office has openings on Sundays by appointment only.  Visit the practice online at www.orangecountydentalcare.com.