Starting a New Exercise Routine? Here’s How to Protect Your Oral Health

Are you starting a new exercise routine in 2025? Whether your goal is to build muscle, lose weight, or simply enjoy more energy, a regular workout schedule can be essential. Exercise can even benefit your oral health by building up your immune system and reducing your risk of gum disease! However, there are also some potential drawbacks. How might exercise negatively affect your smile, and how can you protect yourself? This blog post provides some helpful tips.

Potential Dangers of Exercise

Exercise might harm your oral health in a few ways:

• Accidents. A fall or sports mishap might cause you to break or chip a tooth. This is especially common in contact sports, but it can also happen when running, using machines at the gym, or in other settings.
• Sports drinks. Sports drinks provide valuable electrolytes, but they also tend to be very acidic and contain a lot of sugar. They can erode your tooth enamel and increase your risk of cavities and sensitive teeth.
• Dry mouth. Vigorous exercise can cause you to breathe through your mouth, which can reduce saliva flow and increase the number of harmful bacteria on your teeth and gums. You might end up with bad breath or cavities.
• Teeth grinding. If you tend to grind and clench your teeth while doing physically challenging tasks, you could end up hurting your enamel.

Protecting Your Smile

You can enjoy a regular exercise routine without endangering your smile! Here are some helpful tips:

• Wear protective gear. For example, you might need a custom mouthguard if you play sports.
• Do not push yourself too far. Accidents are more likely to happen if you try to do challenging exercises before you are ready. Make sure you properly warm up, and gradually increase the difficulty of your movements.
• Stay hydrated. Sip on water throughout your workouts. If you need an electrolyte boost, try snacking on a banana and some salted nuts. You can also try coconut water, which is sometimes called “nature’s sports drink.”
• Focus on nose breathing. Breathing through your nose during vigorous workouts can be challenging, but many athletes are able to do so after some practice.
• Be mindful of your lower jaw. If you find yourself grinding or clenching your teeth, make a conscious effort to loosen your lower jaw.
• Have a thorough oral hygiene routine. Regular brushing and flossing can help to keep oral bacteria under control.

Exercise is one of the best things you can do for your health! Just be sure to take some precautions so your smile stays strong and unharmed.

Meet the Practice

Dr. Preetha Thomas is the leader of our team. She is an experienced holistic dentist who is passionate about all things related to health and wellness. If you have questions about how you can maintain your oral health while enjoying a regular exercise routine, she would be pleased to share some advice with you. Contact Enclave Dental in Southlake at 817-912-1218.