People tend to think about medicine in little chunks, where the health of the body is one thing and the health of the teeth is another. However, if you’re trying to get fit, that could potentially cause problems for your oral health if you do it improperly.
Just about everyone could stand to think a little bit more about how their general lifestyle choices affect their teeth. Here are a few things you ought to consider if you’re trying to keep your oral health in good condition while working out.
Stay Hydrated
When you’re really working out, it’s pretty common to start breathing through your mouth in order to catch your breath. While mouth-breathing is normal, too much of it can actually cause some problems.
The biggest one is dry mouth. This is an issue because saliva serves as the mouth’s natural cleanser—it breaks down food and washes it away, preventing bacterial buildup. Without it, you put yourself at greater risk for serious oral health problems.
You can counteract dry mouth by staying hydrated. This will facilitate saliva production and protect your oral health, as well as being good for your body overall.
Stay Away From Sports Drinks
Sports drinks can be great for restoring the electrolytes lost through sweat, but they’re also absolutely chock full of sugar. Given that you’re unlikely to brush your teeth while working out, this sugar spends a lot of time just sitting there on your teeth. The same goes for artificial dyes that are often incorporated into sports drinks.
Water is usually plenty to stay hydrated, but if you really need those electrolytes, you could look into a sugar-free, dye-free source of them.
Be Cautious With Your Pre-Workout
In a similar vein, the protein shakes that some people drink before working out can often be sweetened, or can include fruits that add a lot of sugar.
If you want the nutrients without the cavities, you might consider brushing your teeth after your pre-workout shake.
About Our Practice
At Vista Dental Care, we want people of all ages to feel welcome and cared for when they visit our office, which is part of why everyone on our dental team works hard to get to know every patient that we see on a personal level. We also know the difference that advanced dental technology makes in the quality of care that people receive, so we’ve outfitted our office with advanced dental technology.
If you have any questions about the best way to get fit while protecting your oral health, we can be reached at our website or by phone at (775) 626-3535.