A common resolution people make for New Year’s is to be a bit healthier than they were. You may be no different, planning on eating cleaner and working out more than you did before. However, while exercising is great for your body, certain habits that you may do during it can put your smile in harm’s way. To help make sure your oral health doesn’t falter while taking care of your overall well-being, here’s what to know.
Can Working Out Hurt My Smile?
Working out can do plenty of good for you, such as getting your heart pumping, giving you relief from stress, and helping you lose weight. Not only that, but you also might decrease your risk of gum disease! But certain habits you may do while exercising can impact your grin, such as:
- Teeth Clenching: When you do strength training or any other hard workout, you may start to clench your teeth. This can put excess pressure on your smile, causing increased enamel wear or jaw pain.
- Mouth Breathing: A strenuous activity can get your heart pumping, but this also makes you breathe faster and heavily. Many start to breathe out their mouth instead of their nose as a natural response. Oftentimes, this leads to dry mouth, which reduces saliva production that helps wash away harmful bacteria.
- Drinking Sports Drinks: It’s important to stay hydrated while exercising, especially with the bullet point above! However, these types of beverages may be good at replenishing electrolytes, but they are usually full of sugar and are acidic. You may be at a higher risk of cavities, gum disease, and even enamel erosion.
How Can I Protect My Smile While Exercising?
Regardless, it’s important you work out to boost your overall health, but you should take steps to make sure your smile isn’t hurt along the way. Here are easy tips you can follow:
- Stick to drinking water as it’s hydrating while also washing away bacteria and debris in your mouth. Try out coconut water if you want something more flavorful.
- Wear a mouthguard while you are lifting or at risk of facial blows. If you suspect you might clench your teeth, then put this oral appliance in to protect your grin.
- Do breathing exercises to help you breathe through your nose. This can even increase your lung capacity and lower blood pressure!
- Brush and floss twice every day to get rid of plaque that’s on your smile and reduce your risk of dental problems. Visiting your dentist consistently can even be helpful in making sure your habits aren’t causing trouble.
You shouldn’t let your New Year’s resolution cause any harm to your oral health! Instead, follow the tips above, so you can keep your smile strong and benefit your body as well.
About the Author
Dr. Deval Parmar earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery from the Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry. She is dedicated to helping the McKinney community get the stronger grins they deserve through preventive care. By coming to Dr. Parmar for checkups and cleanings, you can be proactive about cavities, gum disease, and other problems; that way, you avoid them the best you can. If you want to know how to keep your smile protected, schedule an appointment or call her office at (972) 972-4646.