Sports supplement consumption, dental health, and salivary parameters in adolescent elite football players: A cross-sectional study

Background: Adolescent athletes frequently use sports supplements (SS) to enhance their performance. However, the increased consumption of SS has raised concerns regarding potential long-term associations with oral and dental health outcomes. This study aimed to examine the relationship between sports supplement use and dental health status, including the DMFT index and dental erosion, as well as salivary parameters of adolescent football players. Methods: Data on personal characteristics and SS use were collected from 52 participants. Dental health was assessed using the Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth (DMFT) index, Visual Dental Erosion Examination Index, and the Basic Erosive Wear Evaluation. Salivary parameters were analyzed using the GC Check Buffer. Results: The most frequently consumed SS were sports drinks (17.3%), sports bars (17.3%), and vitamin C (13.5%). No significant relationship was found between regular SS consumption and the DMFT index or dental erosion. However, the consumption of sports drinks was significantly associated with resting salivary pH, stimulated salivary volume (mL), and stimulated salivary pH (p < 0.05). Conclusions: In this cohort, sports drink consumption was associated with salivary parameters, including salivary pH and stimulated saliva volume, in exploratory unadjusted analyses. These findings may indicate hypothetical salivary changes, although no corresponding clinical differences in DMFT or erosion were detected in this sample. Consequently, awareness regarding sports drink use among adolescent athletes should be increased as a precautionary measure.