{"id":338,"date":"2026-01-29T23:37:24","date_gmt":"2026-01-29T23:37:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.laketownfamilydental.com\/blog\/?p=338"},"modified":"2026-02-09T18:42:48","modified_gmt":"2026-02-09T18:42:48","slug":"exercise-oral-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.laketownfamilydental.com\/blog\/2026\/01\/29\/exercise-oral-health\/","title":{"rendered":"How Does Exercise Affect Your Dental Health?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.laketownfamilydental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Exercise-2-Small-1024x540.jpg\" alt=\"Weight-lifting class\" class=\"wp-image-339\" style=\"width:402px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.laketownfamilydental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Exercise-2-Small-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.laketownfamilydental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Exercise-2-Small-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.laketownfamilydental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Exercise-2-Small-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.laketownfamilydental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Exercise-2-Small-1536x810.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.laketownfamilydental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Exercise-2-Small-2048x1080.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s important that everyone stays active to keep up excellent health. Whether you like to run outdoors or play basketball at your local recreation center, you are helping your body stay in good shape. However, exercise isn\u2019t always the best for your oral health for various reasons. The good news is that there are steps you can take to reduce the harmful effects that exercise has on your smile. Read on to learn what they are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why Is Exercise Harmful for Your Oral Health?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are some ways that exercise can put a damper on your oral health<s>.<\/s>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Sports Drinks:<\/strong> Did you know that sports drinks are even worse for your smile than soda and juice? This is because the beverage contains so much acid and sugar. They are a great way to rehydrate you and replenish electrolytes after a grueling workout, but you could be looking at enamel erosion and tooth decay in the near future. In fact, a study published in the <em>Journal of the Academy of General Dentistry<\/em> found that damage can occur after just five days of constant consumption.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Mouth Breathing:<\/strong> When you are exercising, you may find yourself breathing heavier and with your mouth open to take more oxygen into your body. However, when you do this too much, you develop dry mouth. This is when there isn\u2019t enough saliva in the mouth. Ultimately, this is the perfect environment for oral bacteria to thrive in. This means a higher chance of developing gum disease and cavities.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Jaw Clenching:<\/strong> Jaw clenching and teeth grinding, also called \u201cbruxism,\u201d are both common during high-intensity workouts, and this can become an issue over time. Not only can you damage your teeth, but your jaw joints are put under excess stress.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Limit the Harmful Effects of Exercise on Your Teeth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This shouldn\u2019t be an excuse for you to avoid exercise altogether. Instead, take the following steps so you can stay active while keeping your smile healthy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Use a Nightguard:<\/strong> If you tend to grind or clench your teeth, wearing an oral appliance can help to prevent damage. This provides a thin barrier between the upper and lower teeth to prevent unfavorable contact.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Breathe Through Your Nose:<\/strong> Make an effort to breathe through your nose as much as possible during your workouts. This way, you can keep your mouth from drying out.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Go Easy on Sports Drinks:<\/strong> Water is the best thing for you to drink when you exercise. If you\u2019re worried about getting enough electrolytes, try drinking coconut water instead. It has no added sugar and tastes delicious!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Exercise is great, but no one wants to encounter <a href=\"https:\/\/www.laketownfamilydental.com\/emergency-dentistry.html\">dental issues<\/a>. By using the tips above, you can keep your smile and your body in excellent shape!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About the Practice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>At Laketown Family Dental, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.laketownfamilydental.com\/dr-ariel-heisser.html\">Dr. Ariel Heisser<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.laketownfamilydental.com\/dr-eric-heisser.html\">Dr. Eric Heisser<\/a> work together to treat patients in the Norton Shores community. With their combined experience and expertise, patients can get pretty much anything they need under one roof. They even offer same-day appointments for emergencies. For more information or to schedule a consultation, visit their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.laketownfamilydental.com\/contact-us.html\">website<\/a> or call (231) 737-2273.&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It\u2019s important that everyone stays active to keep up excellent health. Whether you like to run outdoors or play basketball at your local recreation center, you are helping your body stay in good shape. However, exercise isn\u2019t always the best for your oral health for various reasons. The good news is that there are steps [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-338","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Exercise &amp; Dental Health, Norton Shores | Laketown Family Dental<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"You need plenty of exercise to stay strong and healthy, but how does this affect your dental health? 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