Orofacial Injury and Oral Hygiene in Handball Players

The objective was to assess the oral hygiene and injury experience in handball players in relation to the gender, league level, and game position. 105 players (25 females, 80 males) were interviewed in trauma experience; additionally the oral hygiene behavior, consumption of sports drinks, and the impact of oral health on sporting performance were investigated. 52.4 % of the 105 handball players had orofacial injuries; soft tissue (mostly lip injuries) accounted for 67.6 %, nasal bone fracture for 13.5 %, dental trauma for 9.1 %, followed by jaw fracture 6 %, tongue injuries 5.3 %, chin injuries 4.5 %, and temporomandibular joint injuries 3.8 %. Main injury causes were collisions with other players (67 %), and fall (17 %). No significant gender specifity was found. The circle players had the highest prevalence of orofacial injuries (72.7 %), followed by goalkeepers (62.5 %), backcourt players (54 %), and outside position (34.6 %). Only 6 athletes used a mouthguard. Women performed a significantly better oral hygiene. More female athletes (52 %) than male (26.2%) drank weekly 4 liters sports beverages. Handball has a high prevalence of orofacial trauma, particularly lip injuries, tooth and jaw fractures, but athletes did not use mouthguards. More education, safety standards, and mouthguard use are required.