How to Protect Your Teeth as an Athlete

As an athlete, you know the importance of physical health, and you also know how crucial it is to wear protective gear. Are you doing as much as you could be doing to protect the health of your mouth? There are several different ways that physical pursuits can compromise oral health, but with a few proactive measures, you can protect your teeth and your mouth.

Keep Your Teeth Safe

Protect your teeth with a mouthguard. If you are in a sport like football or field hockey, in which collisions are frequent, wear a mouthguard during every practice and every game. This can help keep your teeth from chipping, cracking, or breaking. Note: wash your mouthguard after every use and store it somewhere dry. You don’t want your mouthguard to play host to bacteria that could infect your mouth.

Protect Your Head

Wearing a helmet might not seem to have much to do with protecting your teeth. However, it is important to recognize that helmets protect your head, and your teeth are in your head. A helmet provides a buffer between your face and whatever you are about to hit, and that can make all the difference to your teeth.

Eat the Right Food

You may already be big on nutrition, because a nutritious diet is important for an athlete. It is important for your teeth, too, because research indicates that eating the right foods is one of the best things you can do to protect your oral health. Steer clear of sugary, processed foods, choosing whole foods and fresh produce instead.

Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate- with Water

Of course, water is essential for preventing dehydration, and it helps give you energy, so it’s important for athletes. Drinking plenty of water is also vital for your oral health, because it keeps your salivary glands functioning properly, and it helps rinse plaque and bacteria from your teeth. Ditch the sugary sports drinks, though. Sports drinks with a high sugar content can do more harm than good, increasing your risk of cavities and causing inflammation throughout your body. Water is the best choice, but if you must drink a sports drink, choose a low-sugar beverage.

Choose Park 56 to Protect Your Oral Health

If you live in New York and you are looking for a dentist to help protect your mouth, why not choose the dentist voted best in the city? At Park 56 Dental Group, we offer pediatric, prosthodontics, endodontics, oral surgery, Invisalign®, emergency, and sedation dentistry, all at the highest level of treatment. Located in the 10022 zip code, we serve the Midtown, Central Park, Upper East Side, Park Avenue, and all surrounding Manhattan and New York areas, with a patient-centered practice that has hours to fit your schedule. Schedule your complimentary consultation today by contacting us online.