Oral health needs among special olympics athletes

Background: People with intellectual disabilities (ID) experience poor health and specialized health needs. Special Olympics (SO) implemented Healthy Athletes (HA) to provide SO athletes with health screenings, education, and referrals for follow-up care. Since 1997, HA has conducted 1.2 million screenings, and screening results are aggregated into the world's largest database on the health of people with ID. Methods: HA occurs around the world at local, regional, and national events, and spans seven disciplines: health promotion, podiatry, fitness, audiology, vision, oral health, and sports physicals. The oral health discipline screens for oral health conditions, offers education (including brushing and flossing instructions), and provides preventative supplies. To examine the prevalence of oral health needs among SO athletes and regional differences, 76,900 screenings from 152 countries were analyzed. Results: Among SO athletes screened, 13.9% reported mouth pain, 37.3% had untreated tooth decay, 28.8% were missing teeth, and 47.0% had signs of gingivitis. Athletes from Middle East/North Africa had the highest rates of tooth decay (65.2%), followed by Latin America (60.0%). Mouth pain was highest in Latin America (24.9%), followed by Africa (20.9%). Mouth pain was self-reported, so the rates of mouth pain may be even higher. Discussion: Local partnerships are needed to ensure SO athletes get the care they need after receiving dental referrals. Health problems specific to people with ID exist for several reasons, including lack of education, lack of training for health care professionals, and communication challenges. In addition to partnerships for treatment, these root problems need to be addressed.