If you’re like millions of Americans preparing to ring in the new year, you may already have decided on a few resolutions to improve your health. Popular goals include eating more wholesome foods to lose weight or visiting the gym more frequently to improve physical fitness.
Although there’s nothing wrong with wanting to look and feel your best, you might hurt your dental condition if you’re not careful when you exercise. Continue reading to learn about 3 common issues that can occur and how you can prevent them!
Concern #1: Mouth Breathing
Did you know that elite athletes are at a higher risk of dental erosion and exercise-dependent cavities? It’s believed this is partly due to changes in saliva production. Your mouth is full of bacteria that thrive in dry conditions. Under normal circumstances, spit keeps your mouth moist and rinses away leftover food, debris, and unwanted germs to protect your enamel from decay.
It’s only natural to huff and puff through your mouth when you’re engaged in cardio activity or struggling to push or pull a heavy weight. However, doing so can cause dry mouth, which could harm your smile. It might seem counterintuitive, but breathing through your nose instead keeps your mouth moist, regulates your breathing rate, and improves oxygen efficiency.
Concern #2: Teeth Clenching
Another common concern is bruxism, or subconsciously clenching your teeth. This often occurs at night while you’re sleeping but can also impact you during the day. Unfortunately, many people grind their upper and lower arches together during strenuous exercise, like weight lifting or sprinting.
Thankfully, your dentist can safeguard your smile by providing a custom-fitted mouthguard. These lightweight shields are made from moldable, shock-absorbing material to protect your pearly whites from sustaining chips, cracks, breaks, or other injuries during physical activities.
Concern #3: Sugary Sports Drinks
Many people with good intentions to work out more frequently need extra motivation to get moving and out the door. Energy drinks are a popular method of consuming extra vitamins and caffeine to boost your system and enhance your focus to push you through your new routine.
However, they also often contain lots of sugar, which attracts harmful bacteria that contribute to oral issues like gum disease and tooth decay. You might find drinking water more beneficial because it keeps you hydrated so your body can better regulate your temperature. It has a neutral pH balance to protect your enamel and rinses harmful germs away.
Thankfully, taking a few simple precautions can safeguard your smile while you meet your fitness goals in the coming year.
Meet the Author
Dr. Tavi Henry takes pride in helping people improve their daily quality of life by enhancing their dental health. He earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree at the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine before committing an additional 400+ hours to continuing education in various topics. He’s also a valued member of several prestigious organizations, including the American Dental Association, so you can trust that you’re in good hands. He can help with everything from providing mouthguards to addressing injuries and offers same-day visits for emergencies so you don’t have to wait for relief. You can request an appointment on the website or call (303) 984-1400.