How to Protect Your Oral Health When You Get Fit

When you think about new years’ resolutions, there’s one that stands out: getting fit. There are a lot of things that one can do to improve their physical fitness, but there are also a lot of ways to do it wrong. If you aren’t the most experienced when it comes to physical exercise, it’s easy to make those mistakes.

It may not be immediately obvious, but there are quite a few ways that getting fit can affect your oral health. If you’re trying to get your dream body in the new year, here’s how to do that without harming your teeth.

Invest in a Mouthguard

If you’re getting interested in sports in the new year, there are quite a few of them that can cause dental emergencies. As a matter of fact, it’s been estimated that there are over 5 million teeth lost annually due to sports-related injuries.

The best way to prevent a chipped or broken tooth from sports injuries is to have your dentist fit you for a sports guard. A well-made mouthguard can prevent the worst from happening, potentially saving you time and money in the long run.

Watch your Diet

The most common sports drinks that people use to rehydrate are often full of sugar and acids. Protein shakes are also often sweetened to mask their taste. If you’re drinking these directly before or during your workout, these sugars might just sit on your teeth the entire time. If you want to protect your teeth, opt for pure water for rehydrating and try protein shakes that aren’t sweetened.

Jaw Clenching

When you’re working your hardest, it can be tempting to grind your teeth. Doing this briefly is perfectly normal, but clenching your jaw for extended periods—like during a run or biking session—can potentially lead to long-term jaw pain or damage to your teeth.

Getting fit is all about self-improvement, so you need to make sure that your teeth don’t get worse as a result of working out. In the new year, make sure your “new you” has the same smile as the old you.

About the Author

Dr. Ahmed Saad has been working in dentistry for over 15 years, and the thing he loves most about his work is being able to make a positive impact in his patients’ lives. When he forms connections with his patients, that makes seeing those results all the more satisfying. Dr. Saad received his doctorate from the USC School of Dentistry.

If you have any questions about the relationship between fitness and oral health, he can be reached at his website or by phone at (703) 938-6800.