According to a German study, triathletes and runners are at greater risk for cavities and tooth erosion due to their training practices. The higher the training time of the athletes (at least 10 hours of training a week), the higher the likelihood of having cavities.
How Extreme Exercise Can Impact Your Teeth?
The sugar and carbohydrates found in protein bars, sport drinks and gels lower the pH of saliva leading to dental erosion and cavities. Athletes breath through their mouths during hard training exercises, creating a dry mouth. Less saliva makes it harder for your mouth to keep itself clean, creating a condition called “runner’s mouth.” Dr. Judy recommends staying hydrated – drinking water before, during and after workouts – and using a fluoride toothpaste will help combat this problem.
Competitive Swimming – Tough on Teeth
(Photo by Josh Dobson / CC BY)
Competitive swimmers who often swim laps more than six hours a week, expose their teeth to large amounts of chemically treated water. Pool water contains a multitude of chemical additives which results in water having a significantly higher pH than saliva, causing salivary proteins to break down quickly and form organic deposits on swimmers teeth.
The result is known as “swimmer’s calculus”; hard, brown tartar deposits that appear predominantly on the front teeth. Swimmers who notice the stains should mention it to their dentist and perhaps increase their dental visits to three or four times a year.
Swimming Pool Dental Emergencies
During the summer, swimming pool accidents are a significant cause of dental emergencies. Swimming underwater and quickly coming to the surface has caused some children to hit the hard edge of the pool, loosening a front tooth. Diving into the shallow end of a pool and hitting the bottom can also push a front tooth up into the jaw bone.
We all know that regular exercise does wonders for our overall health. However, if you are noticing changes in your dental health due to exercise, feel free to contact Dr. Judy’s office for an appointment.
