An interview with the sports dentist: Performance on the bike thanks to healthy teeth

When it comes to athletic performance, most people first think of strength and endurance, perhaps health, but very few think of their teeth. A mistake, as our interview with Dr Marquardt shows. Athletes are particularly sensitive to problems in the mouth. These can in turn lead to a loss of performance. We wanted to find out from the sports dentist how exactly dental health can affect performance and how cyclists should take preventative measures.

What the sports dentist says

BIKE: Dr Marquardt, dental problems are underestimated by many professional athletes as a cause of discomfort or loss of performance. What observations have you made as a sports dentist?

DR. MARQUARDT: Loss of performance is often due to a problem in the mouth. An inflamed tooth can paralyse an athlete's metabolism. And if the acid-base balance is not right, the athlete becomes over-acidified much more quickly than with healthy teeth.

What are the most common problems?

Around 60 to 70 per cent have gingivitis, a mild inflammation of the gums, and this alone weakens the body. This is the result of the study "Screening oral health in footballers", in which almost 240 professional footballers from Europe and the Champions League took part. That's actually a good sign, because I know that he or she simply brushes their teeth badly and doesn't eat well. The success rate for these patients is high, as anyone can quickly change their brushing behaviour and diet. It gets worse when the bacteria penetrate the tooth and jawbone and accumulate in the muscles and tendons. This is known as periodontitis, which affects around 15 to 20 per cent of people. It causes our performance to drop rapidly.

>> We have tested whether bikers can save time by cooking in advance. Read the Meal Prep self-experiment here.

What about tooth decay?

In second place, often not recognised. Many doctors extract the tooth of athletes to avoid costly root canal treatment.

How much can dental problems affect performance in sport?

If the athlete has a good immune and muscular system, it can be between five and ten per cent. In extreme cases, however, it can be up to 40 per cent. I know many athletes who don't want to have their teeth and jaw problems treated. It's not just head and fitness that determine a good place in a marathon - healthy and good teeth are also important.

>> Our expert reveals in an interview what vegan bikers should bear in mind.

Dental problems in cyclists

Why do so many cyclists in particular have problems with their teeth?

During competitions, cyclists stuff themselves with power bars and gels all day long. It's no different during training. Carbohydrates and proteins are important, but not sugar and acids. Of course they have to eat all that, otherwise they run out of energy. I realise that. However, as a cyclist, I have found an ideal solution.

And what does it look like?

I always have two drinking bottles with me. One with magnesium and electrolytes, for example, and one with water to neutralise my mouth regularly, i.e. to rinse it out. I also always wear a performance bar when cycling. Because when I pedal up to Spitzingsee and clench my teeth, the pressure is distributed. The muscles are therefore not only stressed on one side, which is often passed on to the whole body. My teeth are also protected in the event of a fall.

Is it really necessary to neutralise with water in between?

During intensive training sessions, my body is under so much stress that I literally stop spitting. The saliva that protects my teeth from acid attacks doesn't materialise. In football terms, my teeth are left without man defence and are at the mercy of destructive influences. Enamel erosion and tooth decay are the result. Ergo: It is definitely necessary!

>> Here we show you how bikers can provide themselves with homemade snacks on the road.

Exposed tooth necks

Do you do anything else to protect your teeth?

I brush my teeth thoroughly after every training session. Many cyclists, on the other hand, first drink a large protein shake with lots of sugar. And when they brush their teeth, they brush so hard that the necks of their teeth are exposed. But even before that, there are ways to take better care of your teeth.

How?

Eat an apple during or after training, but don't brush your teeth immediately afterwards! This is really important. Wait at least half an hour, preferably an hour, until the saliva neutralises everything.

Why an apple of all things?

The apple cleans the tooth surfaces with its flesh, and chewing stimulates the salivary function in the mouth. This is so important because the acid is neutralised and the immune system is strengthened, thus reducing the attack surfaces for bacteria. This also works with sugar-free chewing gum. This neutralisation is incredibly important for our teeth.

Can you explain this in more detail?

Think of it as if an apple or sugar-free chewing gum were mechanically like a car wash. Instead of brushes or cloths, it's water and fruit acid that first remove sugar residue from your teeth and then clean them. I personally swish fresh sunflower or linseed oil through my teeth every morning. I do this for two or three minutes. When you spit the oil out again, you can see how the toxins are literally rinsed out of your mouth because the oil binds these substances. You take a sip of golden-yellow sunflower oil and out comes a grey and dirty mass. Sounds a bit disgusting, but it's super efficient and super healthy.

Lamellar toothbrush cleans and massages

What advice do you give your patients from sport?

Your teeth are not your opponents, so treat them gently. There are four things to bear in mind: Firstly, I advise you to use an electric disc toothbrush, which athletes - and everyone else - can't brush too hard with. However, it can do almost everything: brush all teeth gently and thoroughly at the same time while gently massaging the gums. Then we should all rid our tongues of pollutants and toxins.

Why is this so important?

The mouth, especially the tongue, is the gateway to the body. If you have an inflammation in your mouth, this is the ideal starting point for bacteria to spread from there to the whole organism and via our bloodstream. The immune system does not like this. What's more, the bacteria stress the body like crazy. It is more susceptible to injuries and illnesses. That's why the tongue decides what gets in and what doesn't. However, toxins are still deposited on it.

What can be done against these intruders?

Simply massage your tongue with a scraper. Try it, you'll be surprised what comes out of your tongue. I like to compare it to car seats. On the surface, they may look quite good and clean. But try cleaning them with a steam cleaner. The water that flows back is greyish, almost black. It's similar with your tongue.

Can anything else be done?

Use dental floss, but do not always saw along the gums, but always along the so-called interdental space. Last but not least, use a pipe brush, i.e. interdental brushes, for the spaces between the teeth.