5 Reasons Your Teeth Hurt When You Run

You have underlying problems if your teeth hurt when you run or exercise. If you ignore signs that notify you of hidden issues, you might face worse dental problems in the future. Several complications exert strain on your jaws and teeth or exacerbate teeth sensitivity. Discover five issues that cause tooth pain during exercise.

1. Cavities

Cavities contain bacteria that eat away your enamel to make your teeth decay. Prolonged cavities speed up the rate of enamel wear and tear. Then, the worn-out enamel exposes your nerves to agents that cause sensitivity, such as cold air. When you run, the pain worsens because a lot of cold air hits your mouth. In addition, the exercise's vibrations and increased blood flow to inflamed parts create pain and discomfort.

The ideal solution to cavity-related pain is to avoid the occurrence of cavities in the first place. Maintain proper oral hygiene. Also, keep up with your dental cleanups and check-ups to identify and solve underlying issues in good time.

2. Bruxism

When you run, your body uses intense force that travels from your feet to your jaws. Often, you do not notice when you grind your teeth. You could be a habitual grinder or could only clench when the sport gets intense, or the terrain becomes challenging. In other cases, improper jaw alignment causes you to grind your teeth. Either way, bruxism wears and tears your teeth.

The ideal ways to manage bruxism are to be keen and relaxed during exercise or to use a mouth guard. If you grind your teeth due to incorrect jaw alignment, your dentist will help you find the appropriate solution. You could also wear comfortable shoes that absorb shock to reduce the exercise's impact on your jaws.

3. Sinusitis

Sometimes, the pain you feel in your teeth is referred pain and has no direct relationship with your teeth. For example, sinusitis transfers the pain to your teeth or the whole mouth and, in other cases, to the ears and eyes. Sinus pressure causes tooth pain due to the proximity of your upper jaw and the maxillary sinus. Sinus inflammation pressurizes your teeth as you run, hence the discomfort.

Receiving a sinusitis diagnosis based on tooth pain is not simple. You must first consult a dentist who will examine your teeth. If your dentist rules out underlying teeth problems, see a general ear, nose, and throat (ENT) doctor for a sinus examination.

4. Sensitivities

Whereas the enamel is hard, beneath the structure lies a living pulp that contains a fluid. The fluid contracts and expands in response to temperature changes. So, when you run, cold air rushes through your mouth and triggers pain in sensitive teeth. In addition, pain and discomfort may occur if you have receding gums.

Sensitivity diagnosis during exercise is not difficult, so you can self-examine before you visit a dentist. For example, you could close your mouth while you run and monitor whether you experience any pain. The tongue, cheek, and lips insulate sensitive teeth against cold. So, if the pain goes away when you have closed your mouth, you can be sure that sensitivity is the underlying problem.

5. Inappropriate Exercise Posture and Behaviors

Your exercise habits could also strain your oral cavity and cause tooth pain. For example, you strain your teeth if you lean towards one side as you run. Unfortunately, body alignment is not something you notice easily. So, if you do not have any underlying issues, get a trainer to guide your exercise behavior.

Another behavioral problem that does not immediately impact your teeth is when you run with your mouth open. Your saliva protects against bacteria. So, if you run with an open mouth and it dries up, you predispose your teeth to oral issues like gum disease. If you are a frequent runner or an athlete, hydrate your body to counteract mouth dryness.

Whether you’re sporty or not, tooth pain is not something you wouldn’t want to experience. Seek professional help at the onset of pain. The pain almost always worsens with time, so do not wait for matters to get more complicated. Instead, consult us at Pittsburgh Dental Spa for a detailed examination.