Running
On Sunday Nov 2nd, I and 2,008
other runners took part in the Plymouth 10k road race. Many spent weeks training
for the event and the smiles on the finish line tell all. Running is an accessible, cheap activity to manage your weight, build strength
in your bones and relieve stress. It is good for your health, good for
your soul!
Is running good for our dental health?
Inevitably, when you are running, you need to breathe
through your mouth. This dries the mouth, saliva thickens and the cleansing
effects are reduced.
·
Sugary food or drink consumed on the go will cause more
damage to your teeth than normal.
·
Avoid energy drinks; they cause decay and acid erosion. Acid erosion thins the enamel and causes
sensitivity.
·
Frequent intake of sugary food or drink consumed during training
causes tooth decay. Untreated advanced decay leads to pain - you may recall
earlier in the year Mo Farah withdrew from the Commonwealth games due to an illness
linked to his dental health.
So, you’re keen to enjoy the benefits of running and want
to keep your mouth healthy?
·
Firstly, stop overestimating the amount of carbohydrates
you need to complete runs of less than 90 minutes.
o
Did you know the body has enough glycogen stored in the
muscles from our normal diets to run for about 2 hours?
o
The majority of runners do
not need to consume energy drinks or energy gels.
o
You will run better and keep your teeth healthy by having a
nutritious pre-run snack (such as a glass of water and cream cheese on
wholemeal toast) rather than grazing on jelly sweets during the run. More ideas
on pre-run snacks can be found on running forums.
For those of you with intensive training schedules (such as
marathon training, where frequent intake of sugar is unavoidable on longer
runs) in addition to brushing twice daily with fluoride toothpaste (spit out
the toothpaste, don’t rinse) you should also use a non-alcohol fluoride
mouthwash. Rinse for 1min at a different time of the day to tooth brushing,
such as post-run or after lunch.
Happy running everyone, stay visible!
Christina.
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