1. Consuming Pre- and Post-Workout Supplements with Hidden Sugars

If you weight train, then you may consume a protein bar or shake before and/or after your workout to aid in muscle repair or consume other pre- or post-workout supplements that enhance endurance or reduce muscle fatigue.

Beware that many of these supplements contain hidden sugars that are not listed on the label as simply "sugar." Examples include rice syrup, dextrose, fructose, and sucrose. These forms of sugar can contribute to tooth decay just as white sugar and corn syrup can.



If you consume workout supplements, look for versions sweetened with artificial sweeteners or be sure to brush after eating or drinking these supplements.

2. Mouth Breathing During Exercise

Many people who typically breathe through their noses begin to breathe through their mouths while exercising due to the body's increased need for oxygen during strenuous exercise.

Mouth breathing can lead to dry mouth, which can wreak havoc on oral health. Saliva not only lubricates the mouth, but it also contains calcium that helps strengthen teeth, neutralizes cavity-causing acids in your mouth, and helps rinse food particles and oral bacteria from your teeth. When experiencing dry mouth due to mouth breathing, you lose all of these benefits of healthy saliva that help combat tooth decay.

While mouth breathing during exercise can be a difficult habit to break, you may be surprised that breathing through your nose begins to come naturally after just a short period of time.



3. Not Drinking Enough Water

While you may know that it is important to drink water while exercising to prevent dehydration, you may become so engrossed in your workouts from time to time that you forget to drink water. However, drinking water while exercising can not only help you re-hydrate your body efficiently, but it can also help protect your dental health.

When you drink water, you moisten a dry mouth caused by mouth breathing during exercise. This water also helps dilute the saliva produced during exercise that is often much thicker and stickier than saliva produced while at rest. Thick, sticky saliva cannot rinse cavity-causing acids and bacteria from your mouth as efficiently as thinner, more dilute saliva can.



4. Not Cleaning Your Mouth Guard Well

If you play a contact sport, then you know that you should wear a mouth guard that fits well to help avoid dental and mouth trauma. However, you may not realize how important it is to care for your mouth guard properly to keep it from contributing to additional dental problems.

Since the material a mouth guard is made from is porous, oral bacteria penetrate into these pores every time your mouth guard is worn. This bacteria can contribute to tooth decay, gum disease, and many types of oral infections if your mouth guard is not cleaned properly after each and every wear.

To clean your mouth guard, brush it thoroughly with toothpaste and a toothbrush or soak it in 3 percent strength hydrogen peroxide for 10 minutes after each wear. Then, let it dry thoroughly and store it in your ventilated mouth guard case until you wear it again.

If you exercise or play a sport on a regular basis, then be sure to break these bad habits before they begin taking a toll on your dental health. Contact the staff at New England Dental Health Services PC to schedule a dental exam today.