Whether you play a summer sport like tennis or cricket, or one that you can take part in all year round such as indoor swimming or running, you probably do so as you feel it benefits your health. There is plenty of evidence to support this and few would argue that it is a healthier lifestyle than lying on the sofa watching TV all day. Generally speaking, exercise is also a positive for your oral health as it helps to pump the blood around the body more efficiently and this includes the tiny blood vessels in the gum which help to fight off any infections.<\/p>\n
On the whole then, exercise can be a good thing for your teeth and gums, but there are also a few factors that could lead to negative outcomes if a little care isn\u2019t taken to counter this. They are mostly simple solutions and we hope that our Burton patients find the advice in today\u2019s blog to be useful to them if they play sports or go to the gym etc.<\/p>\n
One of the biggest risks to our teeth other than decay and gum disease is accidental damage. This can happen in any circumstances of course, but the risk is often higher depending on the type of sport you play. If you swim, then the risk is low whereas if you play rugby or boxing, the risk is a lot higher.<\/p>\n
If you play a high risk sport, then much of this risk can be mitigated by wearing a protective mouthguard for the duration. This will help to prevent teeth from becoming chipped or broken.<\/p>\n
If you’re considering having a tooth implant<\/a> to replace a lost tooth and you do play “heavy” contact sports where an implant may be compromised, it may be worth wearing a partial denture until you retire. Our dentists will be able to offer advice on this depending on your lifestyle and type of activity.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Playing sports will tend to dehydrate you as will any physical activity. Even swimming will, despite the proximity of all that water. Dehydration has an impact on our body in general and it is important to rehydrate afterwards. This is also important for our oral health too. Readers of our blogs will know that a dry mouth caused by dehydration significantly raises the likelihood of gum disease, with potential tooth loss if not treated in time. Make sure to drink plenty of water during and after your exercise.<\/p>\n For most people, a regular healthy diet should be enough to provide the fuel for the sport they play. For those playing at a higher level though or those looking to get a competitive edge, the temptation might be to try to \u2018boost\u2019 their energy levels, especially with products made for this purpose. Participants should take care though as many of these are very high in sugar, including natural sugars which are still harmful to your teeth. One of the worst culprits for this are the high energy or \u2018sports\u2019 drinks. These are best avoided where possible and certainly shouldn\u2019t be used for everyday life to give you energy at work or for study etc.\u00a0 If you are keen to improve your sports diet, it is best to consult an expert in this field for advice.<\/p>\n We mentioned earlier about the risk of gum disease and the impact it can have on your oral health. It is also worth noting that this can also impact your sporting performance. Gum infections are an inflammatory disease which causes the body\u2019s immune system to spring into action. We know how much this can affect us when we have a cold etc, and, over time, it can do the same if we have gum disease. There is also some evidence that the bacteria affecting our gums can get into our bloodstream and may also affect our hearts and lungs. Even where this doesn\u2019t develop to a serious level, it may be enough to \u2018take the edge\u2019 off your fitness and not only impact your fitness levels but also potentially your enjoyment too, possibly to the point where you might consider stopping playing the sports that you currently enjoy.<\/p>\nDehydration<\/h3>\n
Diet<\/h3>\n
Gum disease and infections<\/h3>\n