While we all know the physical and psychological benefits of exercise, one thing we don’t often think about is how our exercise routine might be affecting our teeth.

There are a variety of reasons your exercise routine may be negatively impacting your teeth. Below are just a few of the common causes:

Clenching Jaw/Teeth

You might not notice, but you likely clench your teeth when you exercise. Weightlifting, spin class, even strenuous yoga poses can cause you to clench your jaw while you focus. Continuous clenching can cause both short- and long-term damage to your teeth.

In the short-term you may suffer headaches, jaw aches, and even a loss of breath while you exercise (due to constricted airways). Long-term jaw clenching over time damages your teeth and nerves and can lead to a variety of dental problems down the road, including temporomandibular join disorders (TMD).

If you find yourself clenching your jaw while exercising, it may be a good time to invest in a custom fit mouthguard to help protect your teeth.

Sports Drinks (sugar)

Did you know that some sports drinks are worse for you than soda? It’s true – sports drinks, while containing electrolytes to help replenish what you have lost during a workout, also contain high levels of acid. Combined with a dry mouth (typical of physical activity), this acid wears away at your enamel quicker.

Instead of sports drinks during your workout, you should switch to plain water to help rehydrate – and save your teeth.

Drink more water (hydration + you produce less saliva when working out)

Drinking more water not only hydrates you during exercise, but it also helps maintain healthy teeth. Because we tend to produce less saliva when we are exerting ourselves, our mouths dry out. This drying out allows bacteria a chance to cling to our teeth and begin the process of breaking down tooth enamel.

By drinking water regularly during your workout, you are washing away bacteria and helping your teeth stay healthy.

If you find that your teeth hurt whenever you exercise, it’s time to stop and take a look at the factors contributing to that pain. Schedule a visit to talk to your dentist to be sure there are no underlying infections or cavities.