Are you planning to work out more in 2026? You’re not alone; “get more exercise” is one of the most common New Year’s resolutions. But you need to be careful; while exercise is definitely beneficial for your body as a whole, it can also potentially have a negative impact on your mouth. To help you protect your smile while working out in the coming year, here’s a brief overview of how exercise can be linked to problems with your oral health, as well as the steps you can take to prevent these kinds of dental issues.
Why Exercise Can Cause Problems for Your Smile
There are several ways exercise can inadvertently have a negative effect on your oral health:
- Heavy Mouth Breathing: Intense physical activity can cause you to breathe through your mouth and dry up your saliva. The result is a dry mouth where harmful oral bacteria can easily thrive. In general, people with dry mouth are more likely to develop cavities and gum disease.
- Exposure to Sports Drinks: Many people use sports drinks or energy drinks to rehydrate after exercise. However, these beverages are often high in sugar, meaning drinking them too often can increase your risk of tooth decay. Furthermore, sports and energy drinks tend to be acidic, and as such they can erode your tooth enamel over time.
- Physical Injury: Some types of exercise – such as certain sports – carry a risk of getting hit in the face or mouth, which could end up damaging your teeth. In the worst-case scenario, a tooth could even be knocked out of your mouth altogether.
How Can You Protect Your Smile While Exercising?
The good news is that there are a few simple yet effective preventive measures you can take in order to keep your smile safe while getting the exercise your body needs:
- Stay away from sports and energy drinks. Instead, keep a bottle of water close at hand during your workout so that you can stay hydrated.
- Focus on breathing through your nose while you’re exercising in order to avoid dry mouth. Also, once you’re done with your workout, you can chew on sugar-free gum in order to encourage saliva production.
- When engaging in any sort of activity where you might take a blow to the mouth, always wear a mouthguard. This simple oral appliance can protect your teeth from the worst of the impact, thus reducing the risk of a dental injury occurring.
In short, it’s important to be aware of the various ways that exercise can affect your mouth. That way, you can take the appropriate steps to maintain a healthy smile while also getting in shape.
About the Author
Dr. Sheri McIntosh graduated from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, and she currently holds membership with the North Texas Dental Society as well as other professional organizations. She prides herself on helping her patients protect their smiles with routine checkups, teeth cleanings, mouthguards, and other preventive services. If you think you’re suffering from an oral health issue that might be related to exercise, you can schedule an appointment with Dr. McIntosh at Distinguished Dental in Fort Worth by visiting her website or calling (817) 337-8300.