How athletes' love of sugary drinks could cost them medals at the Olympics

According to a report, oral problems caused an adverse effect on a fifth of athletes’ performances at the 2012 Olympics.

17:55 14 October 2014

Health experts claim that athletes’ love for sugary drinks may have cost them a gold medal at the Olympics.

A new study suggests that a fifth of athletes’ performances at the London 2012 Olympics were affected due to toothache and bleeding gums. The study added that nagging pains in the mouth could have made a huge difference in the end result. 

Professor Ian Needleman of the UCL Eastman Dental Institute said: 'Oral health could be an easy win for athletes, as the oral conditions that can affect performance are all easily preventable.

'Professional athletes and their teams spend a lot of time and money on ways to marginally improving performance, as this can make all the difference in elite sports.

'Simple strategies to prevent oral health problems can offer marginal performance gains that require little to no additional time or money.

'Things like better tooth brushing techniques and higher fluoride toothpastes could prevent the toothache and associated sleeping and training difficulties that can make the crucial difference between gold and silver.’