Aspetar, Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital in Doha, has published a pioneering clinical study showing that oral diseases are highly prevalent among elite national-team footballers and may be linked to pain and an increased risk of injury on the pitch.

Conducted during the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023, held from 12 January to 10 February 2024, the study is the first of its kind worldwide to clinically assess the oral health of elite football players during a major international tournament.

Aspetar’s Sports Dentistry team examined players from 18 national teams that agreed to participate, out of the 24 teams invited, representing a strong response rate for this type of research. The preliminary study identified high levels of tooth decay, gum inflammation, dental erosion and wisdom-tooth problems, alongside sports-related dental trauma and temporomandibular joint disorders.

In similar cohorts of elite footballers, studies have reported that more than 80% of players show signs of gum disease, nearly 90% have dental erosion and up to 40% have periodontitis. In addition, around one in three players report non-contact muscular or joint problems that may be influenced by chronic oral disease.

International evidence in elite sport suggests that roughly one-third of athletes feel that their performance, training load or recovery has been negatively affected by oral health problems. Some athletes have also reported missing training sessions or experiencing reduced playing time due to dental pain or infection.

By documenting these patterns among Asia’s top footballers, the Aspetar study places oral health firmly on the agenda of injury prevention and performance optimisation.

These oral conditions are not only painful; they can also contribute to headaches, difficulties with chewing and sleeping, and persistent oral inflammation. Such inflammation may affect the muscles and joints and increase the risk of non-traumatic injuries, including muscle strains and tendinopathies.

Dr Mohammed Alsaey, Director of Sports Dentistry at Aspetar and lead author of the study, said:

“This preliminary study is the first worldwide to clinically investigate the oral health of elite national-team football players during a major tournament. Our findings show a very high prevalence of oral health problems—from cavities and gum disease to erosion and trauma—that may influence players’ performance, pain levels and risk of non-contact injuries. Building on these results, we are preparing follow-up studies involving different sports, age groups and competitions, as we suspect that the burden of oral disease could be even higher beyond elite football. We are determined to turn this knowledge into concrete prevention strategies for clubs and federations.”

Aspetar has long been recognised as a leader in sports dentistry, with more than 15 years of specialised experience in the prevention, diagnosis and management of dental conditions and injuries in athletes. The hospital has also played a leading role in developing practical guidance on managing oral trauma in sport.

The newly published study strengthens Aspetar’s position as a global reference centre and supports its vision of fully integrating oral health into multidisciplinary athlete care—from screening and education to on-field emergency management and long-term follow-up.

About Aspetar:

Aspetar is a world-leading specialised orthopaedic and sports medicine hospital and the first of its kind in the Middle East. Since 2007, with a world expert team, the hospital has provided top-level comprehensive medical treatment to all athletes in a state-of-the-art facility that sets new standards internationally.

In 2009, Aspetar was accredited as a “FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence” by F-MARC. In 2013, Aspetar was adopted as a reference collaborator centre by the Gulf Countries Council (GCC) Health Ministers Council and “The IOC Research Centre for Prevention of Injury and Protection of Athlete Health” in 2014.

In 2015, Aspetar has been recognised as the “IHF Reference Centre for Athlete and Referee Health”. In the same year, the hospital also achieved obtained-on December 15 the Accreditation Canada International (ACI) “Platinum Level”.

Aspetar is a member–organisation of Aspire Zone Foundation, Qatar’s innovative sports and healthy lifestyle destination.