Page 123 - Muscle & Fitness (February 2020)
P. 123
FIX YOURSELF
AVOID THE GRIND
IF YOU’RE A NIGHTTIME teeth
grinder, you may also be clenching
those pearly whites when you’re
trying to set a new squat PR.
“Research shows that three times
the amount of force is used grind-
ing during the day versus the
evening,” explains Inna Chern,
D.D.S., an NYC-based dentist. Over
Chalk may leave the gym a mess;
not wiping your sweaty bench time, this can lead to issues like
can leave the next guys sick. jaw disorders (temporomandibular
disorders or TMD), headaches,
even damaged or worn-down teeth.
If you happen to catch yourself
KEEPING YOUR BODY in the mirror biting down midlift,
OUT OF HARM’S WAY Chern says to consider trying a soft
appliance mouth guard. “Even one
from a pharmacy is totally fine to
IF YOU DON’T THINK TWICE ment. “Use them,” says Pete wear during a workout.”
about keeping germs at bay in Van Zile, principal scientist at Mouth breathers (we’re looking at
the gym, here’s something that GlaxoSmithKline consumer you, runners and cardio junkies),
may make you reconsider. In health care, “especially during listen up: “When you breathe
late 2017, fitness equipment cold and flu season. Viruses can mostly through your mouth, your
review website Fitrated teamed live on surfaces hours after an salivary flow goes down, similar to
up with EmLab P&K for a study infected person touches them.” dry mouth, which can increase the
on how much bacteria is found Avoid touching your hands risk of cavities and plaque buildup,”
on gym equipment. to your eyes, nose, and mouth explains Chern. A quick fix: Try
The results are nasty. The mid-workout, and wash your lowering your workout intensity to
experiment found that free hands immediately after you accommodate closing your mouth
weights have 362 times more finish your session. and breathing through your nose.
germs, treadmills 74 times Another sneakily germ-
more, and exercise bikes carry filled culprit: your cellphone.
Your lifts may
more than 39 times the amount “Chances are you put your be increasing,
but the grind
of bacteria you’ll find on an phone on the floor, or on a
may literally
average toilet seat. bench, or on another piece of be shrinking
your teeth’s
“Before joining a gym, you possibly dirty equipment,” enamel.
may want to ask about its explains Elliott. “You might
cleaning practices to ensure wipe down machinery but not
things are being wiped down the phone that was on that
O P E N E R A N D T H I S S P R E A D : S H U T T E R S T O C K
with bleach-based products on sweaty, germy surface.”
the regular,” explains Tania Be sure to wash your face
Elliott, M.D., clinical instructor before your workout, but despite
at NYU School of Medicine. the urge, avoid using moisturiz-
“All-natural products may not er. “If you use moisturizer, when
be the best in this situation.” you go to wipe away your sweat,
But don’t completely rely you may be pushing residue in
entirely on the staff. Most that will clog your pores and
studios and commercial gyms cause acne,” Heslin says. Mois-
have wipes readily available for turize post-workout after you
members to wipe down equip- cleanse your face again.
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