SIMPLE ORAL HEALTH STEPS HELP IMPROVE ELITE ATHLETES' PERFORMANCE-PART I Elite athletes who adopted simple oral health measures, such as using high fluoride toothpaste and cleaning between their teeth, reported significantly reduced negative effects on performance related to poor oral health, finds a new study. The new research is the latest in a series of studies that have found that elite athletes have substantial rates of oral disease, including tooth decay and gum inflammation, and these symptoms negatively affected their wellbeing and sporting performance. To help address this, researchers designed a behavioral change program aimed at better educating elite athletes about oral health and providing some simple interventions to improve their daily oral health routines. Explaining the study, lead author Dr Julie Gallagher said: "Poor oral health of elite athletes is common and is associated with negative performance. However, compared with other health and training pressures, oral health care is not a high priority in elite sport. We therefore wanted to develop a program which was aligned with the existing high-performance culture of the athletes and their teams. Underpinning the study was health behavior psychology, which included education, self-motivation, goal setting, and an easy-to-use toolkit, ensuring the athletes had a readily available opportunity to improve." In total, 62 athletes from two Great Britain Olympic Teams, rowing and cycling, and one Premiership Rugby Club, Gloucester Rugby, were recruited to the study. Athletes and support teams were asked to watch a 10-minute presentation which focused on building motivation to improve oral health, and three 90-second information films which focused on increasing oral health knowledge and skills to perform optimum oral health behavior. Presented as a service to the community by Dr. Barbara Webster 1121 Warren Ave., Suite 130, Downers Grove, IL 60515 630-663-0554 SM-CL 1851485 SIMPLE ORAL HEALTH STEPS HELP IMPROVE ELITE ATHLETES' PERFORMANCE-PART I Elite athletes who adopted simple oral health measures, such as using high fluoride toothpaste and cleaning between their teeth, reported significantly reduced negative effects on performance related to poor oral health, finds a new study. The new research is the latest in a series of studies that have found that elite athletes have substantial rates of oral disease, including tooth decay and gum inflammation, and these symptoms negatively affected their wellbeing and sporting performance. To help address this, researchers designed a behavioral change program aimed at better educating elite athletes about oral health and providing some simple interventions to improve their daily oral health routines. Explaining the study, lead author Dr Julie Gallagher said: "Poor oral health of elite athletes is common and is associated with negative performance. However, compared with other health and training pressures, oral health care is not a high priority in elite sport. We therefore wanted to develop a program which was aligned with the existing high-performance culture of the athletes and their teams. Underpinning the study was health behavior psychology, which included education, self-motivation, goal setting, and an easy-to-use toolkit, ensuring the athletes had a readily available opportunity to improve." In total, 62 athletes from two Great Britain Olympic Teams, rowing and cycling, and one Premiership Rugby Club, Gloucester Rugby, were recruited to the study. Athletes and support teams were asked to watch a 10-minute presentation which focused on building motivation to improve oral health, and three 90-second information films which focused on increasing oral health knowledge and skills to perform optimum oral health behavior. Presented as a service to the community by Dr. Barbara Webster 1121 Warren Ave., Suite 130, Downers Grove, IL 60515 630-663-0554 SM-CL 1851485