Let’s Get Physical!

Why exercise can be good (and bad) for your oral health.

On an almost daily basis, we are encouraged to exercise more, either by magazines or social media. On the whole, it is a positive message and one that might help to reduce obesity and diabetes if taken up widely. It is good for the heart and also enables oxygen to flow around the body more easily, making us feel more alert and less lethargic.

It is important though to exercise sensibly. Anyone who is heavily overweight who tries to run an ultramarathon is probably going to get into potentially serious difficulties, so common sense needs to be observed. This also applies when we stop to consider the impact on our teeth and gums if we take part in exercise regularly, and that is the topic of today’s Bradley and Partners Dental & Implant blog.

The benefits

As mentioned above, regular exercise helps the body to stay strong and healthy and to fight off infections as well. In addition to building muscles, it encourages blood flow around the body. This is good for our teeth and our gums in particular. If your gums are a healthy pink colour, this usually means that you have a good blood flow in that area. If your gums are pale, then the blood flow could be restricted. This means that  you are at a higher risk of infections and that could eventually affect your teeth as well.

Your immune system will also be strengthened with exercise, helping you to fight infections as well. You should take care not to over exercise though as this could temporarily weaken your system, leaving you more vulnerable to oral health problems.

Exercise can also be a good way to reduce stress. As we have discussed before, stress can lead us to ‘comfort eat’, often high sugar foods, and, in some cases, can lead to teeth grinding or bruxism, which can cause worn or damaged teeth.

All in all then, exercise is definitely a plus when it comes to looking after our overall health as well as our teeth and gums. However, there are certain things that our Canterbury patients should be cautious about, and should not fall into traps that could risk their teeth and gums.

Mouth breathing and dehydration

If you do any more than gentle walking, you will almost certainly find that you start to breathe more through your mouth so that you can get a sufficient supply of oxygen. This is perfectly normal and healthy but it does mean that you are more likely to suffer from a dry mouth. While this is not such a problem if it is very temporary, any longer term dryness allows bacteria to breed more rapidly and can, in turn, lead to gum disease. It is important to make sure you drink plenty of fluid when exercising. This is important, not only in summer but in winter too. It may be cold, but your body still loses moisture so make sure to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and keep the oral cavity in good health .. and …. talking of water ….

‘Energy’ drinks

There is a growing market in the UK for so-called energy, or sports, drinks. It can be tempting to take these on board if you exercise regularly, but, in most cases, they are unnecessary. If you are an elite athlete, then there may be a use for them, but for most people, they are not only unnecessary, but also potentially harmful too. Most of the energy factor comes from high levels of sugars, sometimes combined with caffeine or similar as well. These might give you a quick boost but they should be unnecessary for most people who follow a good diet. Unfortunately, it seems that even teenagers are now turning to these instead of eating as they should. Almost inevitably, many of these will end up at your Canterbury dental clinic with tooth decay or sensitive teeth caused by the acids in them as well.

The high sugar levels and acidity content of these drinks means that dental problems, such as those just mentioned, are almost inevitable. For most people, they are completely unnecessary and should be avoided at all cost. A good diet and plenty of water should be more than enough for your needs.

Injuries

While some sports, such as running or swimming should be relatively injury free, bar perhaps a few pulled muscles or hamstrings, those who take part in contact sports such as football, are more likely to suffer injuries. This can also apply to the facial area too and damage to the teeth is a real risk from this. Broken or knocked out teeth can occur which require emergency dental care. Even where no damage is obvious, if you receive a blow to the mouth during a game, you should see your dentist to have it checked, just to be on the safe side.

If you are considering having dental implants placed to replace a missing tooth or teeth, this is something that you should consider. If you are playing football or rugby etc regularly, there is a risk that the implant could be damaged and fail. It may be wiser to wear dentures while you are still playing and then have implants once you retire, particularly if contact sports are your activity of choice. We are always happy to talk you through the various options to help you make an informed decision.

As you can see then, exercise is definitely a good thing, but precautions do need to be taken to maintain a healthy mouth. We also recommend that, in addition to your regular check up appointments, that you also see our hygienist. This is important for maintaining healthy gums. To make an appointment at Bradley and Partners Dental & Implant Clinic, you can call us on 01227 463529.