You might not expect it, but there’s a chance your dentist will recognize that you’re a runner as soon as you open your mouth. We explain why runners are more likely to have bad teeth.
Running and bad teeth
“Running can be quite taxing on your oral health,” dentist and running star Elizabeth Turner tells Runners World. A survey of British athletes published in the British Dental Journal found that half of them suffer from tooth decay, compared with an average of only one-third in adults in the same age group. There are several causes for this.
Breathing through the mouth
When running, many people breathe through their mouths, which can lead to dry mouth. This is a problem because less saliva increases the risk of cavities. In fact, saliva plays a crucial role in washing away food particles and neutralizing acids from food and bacteria, warns dentist and runner Jeremy Hoffman.
During intense workouts, the composition and thickness of saliva changes. During strenuous exercise, it often becomes thicker and slimier. This makes it more likely to retain the sugars and acids that cause tooth decay, rather than drain them.
Sugars
In addition, runners often consume too much sugar for fear of running out of energy, Hoffman argues. All those sweet products like gels, wine gums and sports drinks, which provide your muscles with energy, simultaneously feed the bacteria that naturally live in your mouth. As these bacteria digest the sugars, they produce acids that attack tooth enamel and make your teeth less protective.
Hoffman explains that dentists often see this as white, chalky lines on the teeth. With frequent use of sports drinks, these lines often appear at the base of the teeth, where they come into contact with the gums. Or at the front teeth, which are in direct contact with the drink while drinking. Even though this is normally an area where tooth decay is rare.
The solution
For both causes, according to specialists, there is a simple solution. Drink plenty of water while running or simply rinse your mouth with it and then spit it out. This helps to restore the oral flora and thus protect your teeth.