If you are an athlete or you lead an athletic lifestyle, your physical fitness is a top priority. Yet many athletes don’t realize that good dental health is an important part of achieving top physical performance. Recent studies have even found that hundreds of world class Olympic athletes suffer from dental hygiene issues regularly. This is because many of the habits that athletes develop to maintain their physical condition can lead to dental problems like tooth decay and gum disease. Dr. Marks and Dr. Martin help athletes keep their teeth and gums healthy at his University Drive dental office in State College, PA. You can make an appointment with the doctors today to proactively tackle your oral health.

Dental Health Concerns for Athletes

One risk of decay is caused by the daily use of sports drinks, which can actually be more damaging to teeth than sodas because of high acidity and large amounts of sugar. Athletes often have intense training regimens that require maximum physical performance. To refuel during these workouts, many athletes consume energy and sports drinks, protein bars, and eat frequent meals throughout the day, all of which can be detrimental to your oral heal. Excessive sweating could also cause dehydration, which reduces the amount of saliva in the mouth. Saliva plays a vital role in protecting the teeth from decay by rinsing away harmful bacteria and restoring tooth enamel.  Athletes can place a lot of stress on their teeth from clenching and grinding while exerting maximum effort during training or competitions. These habits can also wear down the health of an athlete’s teeth and worsen the damage caused by tooth decay. Athletes also have an elevated risk of tooth, gum and lip injuries.

Dental Health Care for Athletes in State College, PA

There are important steps to take to protect the health of your teeth and gums if you are an athlete or lead an athletic lifestyle. The first is to switch from sports drinks to water to keep hydrated. Also, try to gut down on supplements or meal replacements that are high in sugar. To protect teeth from injury, and to minimize the effects of clenching or grinding your teeth, it’s also important to wear a custom fitted mouthguard. Due to the increased risks of dental problems, athletes should also see a dentist more often than non- athletes. You can contact Dr. Marks and Dr. Martin today to schedule your next appointment. Dr. Marks and Dr. Martin are conveniently located on University Drive in State College, PA and proudly serves patients from surrounding Park Forest Village, Spring Mills, Centre Hall, Huntingdon, Altoona, Penns Valley, Boalsburg, Lemont, Bellefonte, Lewiston, Philipsburg, Port Matilda, University Park, Pleasant Gap, and Hollidaysburg.