With spring on the way, you may be dusting off your tennis racket or looking to invest in a new pair of running shoes in preparation of exercising outside again. Taking part in sports or other exercise is good for your body, helping you to build muscle and improve circulation. However, it may surprise you that one area where exercise could, in fact, be having a negative impact is your dental health. Below is a guide to 2 common ways in which fluid loss caused by exercise can be bad for your dental health.

Dehydration

During exercise, particularly in the heat of the sun, you can lose a lot of fluids via sweating. If you do not consume enough water during and after exercise, you may experience a dry mouth or taste a strange acidic taste in your mouth. This is because of a lack of saliva in your mouth. Saliva helps to protect your teeth by neutralising acids and washing away plaque and food debris. A dry mouth creates the perfect conditions for bacteria to grow, which will eventually lead to increased rates of tooth decay. You should ensure you stay adequately hydrated during and after exercise.

Sports Drinks

In order to avoid becoming dehydrated, you may be tempted to use specialist sports drinks. Sports drinks are becoming an increasingly popular way to rehydrate yourself after exercise. They are marketed as the best thing to replace fluid because they help to replace electrolytes you have lost via sweating. While this may be true, the major drawback of sports drinks is that they are terrible for your teeth. Sports drinks are acidic and contain sugar. While this might give you a boost after exercise, it will also soften and damage the enamel on your teeth. To prevent this, you should consider switching back to good old fashioned fluorinated water, which will provide good levels of hydration while also protecting your dental health. However, if you can't face quitting drinking your favourite sports drink, you should drink it using a straw so less of the sugary, acidic liquid comes into contact with your teeth.

If you have any questions or concerns about the impact of your exercise regime on your dental health, book an appointment with your local dentist today. They will be able to offer advice on maintaining your dental health, perform a check up and carry out any necessary treatment.

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