Exercise Endangerment: How to Keep Your Teeth Safe at the Gym

A new year has arrived and if you’re like many others, you’ve resolved to spend more time at the gym focusing on your health. While this is a great way to lose weight and improve your overall well-being, if you’re not careful then you might damage your smile. There are a few factors to keep in mind if you want to protect your teeth. Keep reading to learn 3 ways that working out impacts your grin and what you can do to prevent problems.

Problem #1: Teeth Grinding

Did you know that according to the American Dental Assistants’ Association, about 15 million Americans every year experience a sports-related dental injury? Some of that is due to playing high-contact sports, but in some cases, it’s because of how you carry your tension. It’s common to clench your jaw or bite down hard when you’re exerting tremendous physical effort, like during strenuous cardio or lifting weights. This can cause a locked jaw due to a TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorder, or even chipped or broken teeth.

You can avoid this by wearing an oral appliance. Mouthguards, for example, put a physical barrier between your upper and lower arches so that even if you bite down, your pearly whites won’t touch.

Problem #2: Dry Mouth

When you’re straining hard during a workout, you’re more likely to breathe with your mouth open. You might think this helps you engulf more air, but you’re not really doing yourself any favors. You could develop dry mouth which encourages the growth of toxic bacteria and reduces saliva production as a result. Because spit is your mouth’s natural disinfectant, this puts you at increased risk for cavities and bad breath.

Try breathing through your nose, instead. It may take some conscious practice until it becomes second nature, but it’s worth it to inhibit dental erosion. On top of that, breathing through your nose increases your body’s ability to absorb oxygen so it makes you a more proficient athlete, too.

Problem #3: Sports Drinks

One common reason people skip the gym is because they feel too tired or don’t have the energy. It’s tempting to down copious numbers of sports or energy drinks to combat this, but unfortunately, this can harm your teeth. Often such beverages contain large amounts of sugar which attracts toxic bacteria that corrode your enamel. Though they may boost your motivation, they could also cause cavities.

Switching to water is a much healthier decision. It’ll help you stay hydrated while you sweat and won’t put your grin in danger.

Now that you know how to keep your smile safe, you can spend as much time at the gym as it takes to keep your resolution this year!

About the Author

Dr. Alan R. DeAngelo has decades of experience enhancing patients’ lives by improving their oral well-being. He earned his BS in biology from the Loyola University in Chicago, then earned his Bachelor of Science in Dentistry and his Doctor of Dental Surgery degrees from the University of Illinois College of Dentistry. He provides a wide range of services to people at all stages of dental development under one roof, so you and your family don’t have to visit multiple practices for dental care. If you’d like to make an appointment, you’re welcome to request one on the website or by calling (708) 854-5912.