Evaluation of nutritional habits and oral-dental healthof karate athletes

It has been aimed to evaluate the nutritional habits and oral and dental health of karate athletes in this study. A total of 230 karate athletes, consisting of 110 female and 120 male, who attend different sports clubs in Turkey and doing active sports have participated in the research. In the study using general screening method, a questionnaire developed by the researcher has been used. A questionnaire consisting of 53 questions, including 21 questions about demographic and sports background, 11 questions about oral and dental health, and 21 questions about nutritional habits, was applied to the participants in this study. Data obtained from karate athletes were evaluated through frequency, percentage analysis and chi-square test using SPSS 22.0 package program. When the findings related to oral and dental health of karate athletes were examined, it was determined that 65.7% of karate athletes had dental filling problems, 48.3% had tooth extraction problems, 45.4% had tooth decay problems, 34.8% had root canal treatment problems, 13% had tooth fracture problems, 1.9 had dental problems due to braces, 1.4% had problems due to implant, and 1.4% to dental calculus. When the participants' oral and dental health problems are compared according to the drinks they consume in daily life, it is seen that there is a significant difference (p<0.05). It has been determined that the fluid consumption habits of the athletes do not differ significantly according to the gender variable (p<0.05). However, it has been found that the nutritional habits of the athletes showed some differences according to the competition categories (p<0.05). When the findings related to the oral and dental health of the athletes have been examined according to the demographic variables, it has been found that the frequency VI of going to the dentist of the athletes shows a significant difference according to the variables of gender, tooth brushing frequency, maternal education level and body mass index (p<0.05). In addition, it has been observed that the athletes' oral and dental health problems show significant differences according to some demographic variables. (p<0.05). As a result, although karate athletes pay a great attention to their nutritional habits and oral and dental health, oral and dental health problems are common among them. However, it can be said that the nutritional habits of the athletes, the frequency of going to the dentist, and the status of experiencing oral and dental health problems may differ according to some demographic variables. Key Words: Sport, Karate, Nutritional Habits, Oral And Dental Health.