Running News Daily

Are runners at greater risk for dental erosion?

Engaging in regular physical activity is good for your mental and physical health, but is it bad for your teeth? New research published in the journal Applied Sciences has found a link between physical activity and dental erosion, especially when paired with regular consumption of sports drinks. Dental erosion is an irreversible condition, so runners, especially those who regularly consume sports drinks, should beware of their dental health and take steps to protect their teeth.

Physical activity and dental health

Dental erosion occurs when your tooth enamel and dentine are chemically dissolved by acids. According to the researchers, sources of these acids can be split into two groups: intrinsic and extrinsic. Intrinsic factors may include frequent or regular vomiting, gastroesophageal reflux or other chronic gastrointestinal disorders. Extrinsic factors come from external sources like your diet (regular consumption of acidic beverages like fruit juices, isotonic or energy drinks or wine), regular consumption of certain medications or other environmental factors. There are also biological factors that could increase your rate of dental erosion, including your salivary flow rate.

The connection between dental erosion and physical activity is two-fold. The first is your saliva quality and quantity. Saliva protects your teeth from acids and dental erosion and when you have less of it (when you’re dehydrated, for example), your teeth are more exposed. Runners, especially when running in hot conditions, are more likely to get dehydrated, which can put their teeth at risk.

The second, and more significant of the two, are sports drinks. According to the researchers, sports drinks are very acidic, with pH values that generally range from 3.16 to 3.70. Any beverage with a pH less than 5.5 can have a negative effect on tooth enamel and dentine. In fact, through their literature review, the researchers found that physically active people who regularly consumed sports drinks had a 2.5 times greater risk of experiencing dental lesions than those who were not physically active and who didn’t consume sports drinks.

This caused them to conclude: “Regular physical activity is associated with an increased risk of erosive lesions, especially under the influence of the frequent consumption of sports drinks. Based on our review, approximately half of the studied athletes manifested dental erosion.”

How to protect your teeth

Of course, this doesn’t mean you should stop exercising or stop consuming sports drinks to get you through long, hot runs. Runners should just pay particular attention to their dental health, and take the following steps to keep their teeth healthy:

After drinking a sports drink, swish your mouth out with water.

Use a straw (preferably reusable) when drinking sports drinks, to prevent the drink from actually coming in contact with your teeth.

Stay hydrated and avoid having dry mouth.

Use a soft toothbrush, don’t brush too hard, and wait at least an hour after you’ve eaten acidic foods or beverages, because they soften the enamel and make it more susceptible to damage from your toothbrush.

Use a toothpaste with fluoride to strengthen your teeth.