Whether you’re a novice jogger or a hardcore workout enthusiast, sometimes the smallest, oddest injury can sideline your fitness progress! Occasionally these injuries involve tooth pain, which might seem weird given that your teeth aren’t exactly supposed to feel the burn from a hard workout. That said, what does this discomfort stem from and why’s it happening when you work out? Your emergency dentist has four potential reasons for why it might be occurring. Keep reading to learn more.
1. Bruxism
Bruxism is the unconscious habit of clenching and grinding your teeth, and it mostly occurs while patients are asleep. But it can also happen whenever you’re experiencing stress or if you’re working out! If you’re gritting or clenching your teeth whenever you’re running, each step will send reverberations through your body, and you’ll feel discomfort if your teeth are locked together. When you’re running or exercising, you should try to relax your jaw and keep your teeth apart to help prevent this.
2. Cold Sensitivity
Some people’s teeth experience extreme sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures, including the air! Cold air can greatly affect your teeth as you exercise and cause you pain. As you breathe through your mouth, you’re sucking cool air against your already-sensitive teeth. But you can counter this by breathing in through your nose and out through your mouth. Your lips, cheeks, and tongue should be able to keep your teeth well-insulated from the cool air, but you can talk with your dentist if the sensitivity becomes too much.
3. Sinus Problems
Sometimes tooth pain has nothing to do with your teeth at all! Occasionally a sinus infection or other issue can be the cause of a toothache, since your sinuses sit directly behind your cheeks, eyebrows, and jaw. If you can treat the sinus infection or source of the issue, the tooth pain that you’re experiencing during exercise might clear up.
4. Other Oral Health Concerns
It’s also possible that the source of your issue stems from some other oral health concern, such as periodontal disease. As your blood flow increases during exercise, it can exacerbate inflammation inside your mouth, which will cause your teeth to hurt while you work out.
Whenever you exercise, it’s okay for your muscles to feel the burn—but if your teeth are hurting, you should see your emergency dentist about it! Tooth pain might be the sign of some serious underlying issue and failing to seek treatment can lead to some painful complications.
About the Author
Sweeny Family Dental proudly serves patients and families in the Sweeny, TX community under the leadership of Dr. Derek Funk! Dr. Funk completed his dental doctorate at the UCLA School of Dentistry and is a member of several professional organizations including the American Dental Association, the Academy of General Dentistry, and the Academy of GP Orthodontics. His practice is pleased to offer many available services including emergency dentistry. If you or a loved one is suffering from a severe toothache, you can schedule a visit online or over the phone: (979) 401-2962.