Your Teeth and Sports

If you play sports—or if your child plays sports—you probably know how important it is to wear a mouthguard. A custom mouthguard can protect your falling out, cracking, and chipping. Your dentist can even create a custom mouthguard that will offer you more comfort and protection.
But, aside from the risk of damaging your teeth, did you know that athletes can experiences problems with their oral health—and that these problems could affect their play.
For example, many athletes suffer from dry mouth. While this may not seem like a major problem, it actually can be. Saliva is very important to your overall oral health: it carries away food particles and reduces acid buildups. In fact, dry mouth can lead to decay and gum disease, reduce your ability to fight bacteria, and cause bad breath.
To fight against dry mouth, it’s very important to keep yourself hydrated. Obviously, drinking enough is one of the most important things—if not the only thing—you can do to keep stay hydrated, but be careful with what you choose to drink. Many athletes enjoy the flavor of sports drinks, but may not know that the sugar in these drinks can cause tooth decay. Conversely, water can provide you with a variety of benefits without putting your smile in danger. Another way you can increase saliva flow is chewing sugar-free gum.
Finally, if you are experiencing a toothache or pain in your mouth, please contact your dentist. This aching can interfere with your sleep, which can have a negative impact on your performance. If you are interested in learning more, please feel free to contact us soon.