DENTAL CARIES IN PLAYERS BELONGING TO A SWEDISH SOCCER TEAM

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Ljungberg G1, Birkhed D.

• 1Department of Cariology, Faculty of Odontology, University of Göteborg, Sweden.

Abstract

Since dental caries is associated with frequent use of sugar-containing products and since there is a potential risk for such a consumption among sportsmen, we conducted a clinical study of a group (n = 30) of 17-30-year old elite soccer players, including DFS and various caries-related factors, such as plaque index, numbers of cariogenic microorganisms in saliva and sugar intake frequency. Each player was asked to identify one friend of the same age, sex and social background but not active in any sport (n = 28). The mean values for DFS, plaque index, mutans streptococci and lactobacilli were less favourable for the players, but none of the differences were statistically significant, except for the dietary score (p less than 0.05). Thus, soccer players on an elite level seem to have a somewhat higher risk to develop dental caries than nonplayers. However, their regular use of fluoride-containing toothpaste probably to some part compensates for this increased risk.

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