Brits have lost 4.1 million teeth – due to sporting injuries, research has found. A poll of 2,000 adults found 16% have lost a tooth after falling or suffering an injury – amounting to a total of more than eight million teeth lost.

But nearly half of those suffered the mishap while playing sport – with football and boxing the most likely sporting activities to lead to tooth loss, followed by running and rugby.

The stats emerged in a poll by dental care provider, Bupa Dental Care, which also found 43% – or 1.7 million teeth – could have been saved if a mouth guard was worn while playing sport.

England national rugby team dentist, Anni Seaborne, said: “Getting injured while playing sports is common, particularly if you’re engaging in high-contact sports like rugby, football, or hockey.

“However, there are ways to protect against mouth injuries, and I would recommend anyone taking part in contact sports to wear protection.

“I’ve seen far too many of these injuries, and I know the pain and long-term damage that can be caused – it’s just not worth the risk. Players that don’t wear a mouthguard are at an increased risk of damaging their teeth during games.”

The study found that despite the staggering number of incidents, one in ten adults never wear a mouth guard when participating in sports.

And while a fifth do so for the likes of rugby or boxing, they wouldn’t consider wearing one for non-contact sports, like football. Of those who are parents, just 19% said their children always wear a mouth guard.

It also emerged many are risking tooth damage with high consumption of sugary snacks and drinks, with one in 20 adults having at least one every day – and worryingly, this is also the case for 3% of children.

Bupa Dental Care’s Anni Seaborne added: “The sugars in sports drinks, bars, and energy gels increases the risk of tooth decay – so it’s always worth keeping track of your intake, and monitoring for any signs of potential decay.”

TOP FIVE WAYS SPORTS ARE RUINING YOUR TEETH, ACCORDING TO BUPA'S ANNI SEABORNE:

1. NOT WEARING A MOUTH GUARD: Whether it’s a contact sport, like rugby, football, or hockey, or non-contact sport such as mountain biking or gymnastics, do wear protective mouth wear whenever there is a risk of injury. Boxing is the only professional sport for which mouthguards are mandated. If you do lose a tooth, gently rinse the tooth clean if dirty, put it back into position, and bite on a bit of cloth to hold the tooth in place. If that doesn’t work, put the tooth in a glass of milk. At the same time, contact your dentist for an emergency dental care. Time is the most important factor when it comes to saving a tooth – so don’t delay.
   
2. RELYING ON ENERGY DRINKS, ENERGY BARS, AND ENERGY GELS: High-sugar drinks can cause tooth decay. If you’re having them often, there’s a real risk that it will lead to cavities in your teeth. Plus, when you exercise, your salivary flow will drop due to dehydration, meaning that these sugars will sit on your teeth, which in turn will increase the decay rate. Instead of energy drinks, bars, or gels with high sugar, try complex carbs before a workout, so you’ll get a slow release of energy and reduce the risk of damaging your teeth.
3. NOT SEEING A DENTIST REGULARLY: During a busy training schedule, it can be harder for athletes to manage all their commitments – but looking after your oral health shouldn’t be underestimated. We know that poor oral health can have a negative impact on training and performance, so it’s vital that you’re having regular check-ups, allowing your dentist to see if you have any dental problems. Leaving problems untreated could make them more difficult to treat in the future, so it’s best to deal with problems early.
4. DRY MOUTH DURING INTENSE TRAINING: A dry mouth is not unusual for athletes, whatever the sport. When your body is dehydrated from sweating, it causes a decrease in saliva production. Our main defences against bad bacteria are present in our saliva – therefore, a lower saliva rate results in an increase in dental decay. The best way to combat a dry mouth is staying hydrated, so it’s important to drink water before and after workouts.
5. EATING FREQUENTLY: Eating frequent meals is not great for your teeth. Tooth decay is largely caused by the frequency of snacks or meals you have during the day, and not the amount of food eaten. It is better for your teeth and general health if you eat three meals a day, instead of having seven to ten snacks. If you do need to snack between meals, choose foods that contain less sugar.