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During the post-match video of the French team against Ukraine, broadcast by Telefoot this Friday, September 4, a detail caught our attention: it is very clear that Kylian Mbappé is missing a molar. At first glance, it might seem trivial. But at 3bikes, it immediately made us think of a topic we often cover: sugar and its effects on the body. We have already explored its role in performance, recovery, metabolism… but we must not forget that one of its first victims is the teeth.
By Jeff Tatard – Photos: All rights reserved
Sugar, teeth… and performance
Among athletes, and especially cyclists, sugar consumption is omnipresent: energy drinks, gels, bars. This rapid intake strategy is essential on the bike… but it also increases the risk of cavities and, ultimately, tooth loss.
And here, Mbappé’s image takes on its full meaning: a missing tooth is not a simple aesthetic detail.
• Impaired chewing → less efficient digestion.
• Jaw imbalance → muscle tension that can affect the neck, shoulders, and even overall posture.
• Long-term → weakening of the entire oral and dental balance.
The parallel with cycling
For a cyclist, who spends hours in the saddle and whose performance depends on perfectly oiled body mechanics, riding with a missing tooth is like riding with a warped wheel: it holds, but it eventually wears out the rest of the system.
Especially since cyclists are particularly exposed:
• Regular consumption of fast sugars,
• Mouth often dry due to effort and breathing, which reduces saliva protection,
• Dental hygiene sometimes neglected during competition or training camps.
In conclusion,
What this detail noticed in Mbappé reminds us is that teeth are not secondary. In cycling as in football, they are an integral part of performance. So, just as you maintain your drivetrain or monitor your nutrition, don’t let a missing tooth become the weak link in your body’s mechanics.
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