It is necessary for everyone to stay active regularly in order to keep your body and mind in good shape. Whether you like to go hiking on the weekends or you prefer to head to the gym before going to the office, your health is benefiting. However, one part of your body that may be being poorly affected is your mouth. In addition to all the wonderful things that exercise can do for you, your oral health could also be declining. Continue reading to learn how and find out what you can do to prevent this.
How Does Exercise Harm Your Smile?
Exercise is a wonderful thing, but here are some of the ways that it could be hurting your teeth:
- Too Many Sports Drinks: Bright colored sports drinks were invented to help replenish electrolytes during a grueling workout, but they are incredibly damaging for your teeth. In fact, they are even worse for your smile than soda and juice. This is because they are highly acidic and can cause enamel erosion. This means that you are more likely to experience cavities and sensitive teeth. According to a study published in the clinical journal of the Academy of General Dentistry, damage can occur after just five days of drinking them constantly.
- Mouth Breathing: When you are working out, you find yourself breathing heavier with your mouth open in order to bring more oxygen into your body. The issue is that when you do this too long, dry mouth is imminent. This is when there isn’t enough saliva in the mouth and bacteria have the perfect environment to thrive in. This increases your risk for both periodontal disease and tooth decay.
- Jaw Clenching: If you’re enduring a high-intensity workout, jaw clenching and teeth grinding could be something that you mindlessly do. This can become an issues over time. Ultimately, you could end up with damage to your teeth and jaw joints over time due to the stress.
How Can You Limit the Negative Effects of Exercise on Your Teeth?
This may sound like an excuse to avoid staying active, but the truth is that exercise is extremely important. Instead, you should take steps to keep your teeth safe while you work out. Be sure to do the following:
- Stick to Water: Instead of indulging on sports drinks too often, try to stick to water. If you’re worried about replenishing your electrolytes, try coconut water instead. It doesn’t have any added sugar and has a delicious flavor.
- Breathe Through Your Nose: During your workouts, make an effort to breathe through your nose as much as you can in order to prevent your mouth from becoming too dry.
- Wear an Oral Appliance: If teeth grinding or jaw clenching is an issue for you, ask your dentist about oral appliances. This provides a thin barrier in order to protect your jaw, teeth, and facial muscles.
Hitting the gym is great, but you don’t want to end up with a dental emergency on your hands. Use the preventive steps above to that you can stay in shape while caring for your smile.
About the Author
Dr. Gerald T. Shinkawa is an experienced dentist who has been working in the field for four decades. He earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry and has been pursuing continuing education ever since in numerous areas of the field. For more ways to keep your smile healthy or to schedule an appointment at his office in Fresno, visit his website or call (559) 226-5656.