We’re all about living a healthy lifestyle here at DiGrazia Dentistry, in fact we encourage a healthy lifestyle. Although, we never recommend taking anything to the extreme. New studies have shown that extreme fitness rots the teeth.
A study of 352 Olympic and professional athletes found many cases of dental problems, even though the athletes brushed their teeth on average twice a day.
Many athletes consume sugary beverages such as Gatorade, as well as sports gels and chews to give themselves more energy during their sporting events, but as we all know, sugar leads to tooth decay.
On top of that, when athletes aren’t staying properly hydrated, the saliva in their mouth can dry up, and in all actuality, saliva is good for your oral health!
The study was published in the British Dental Journal, it included professional athletes across 11 sports, including football, rugby, cycling, rowing and gymnastics. 49.1% of the study participants had untreated tooth decay as well as gum inflammation. 32% of the participants said that their oral health negatively impacted their sport performance. The bacteria in your mouth can moves from your gums into your bloodstream, which then can affect performance.
When this happens, it increases your chances of life-threatening illnesses such as cancer, dementia and cardiovascular disease.
If you are into extreme sports, good for you! We think it’s awesome. Just make sure that you are brushing and flossing twice daily, and also make sure you’re using a mouthwash with fluoride in it. Do your best to stay away from the hydrating drinks and energy gels/gummies that are high in sugar.
As always, if you find your gums are looking more puffy, you’re having any aches and pain in your teeth or any other oral health issues, make sure to set up an appointment with us! You can also call us at (775) 786-2077 to set up an appointment!
