By Dr Elizabeth Crake
Wimbledon is one of the most active corners of London. Between the courts, the Common, the running clubs and the buzz of Championships fortnight, there's always someone training, playing or cheering on the tennis. Staying fit is brilliant for your health, but an active lifestyle quietly puts your teeth under pressure in ways that are easy to miss. Here's how tennis players and sports enthusiasts across SW19 can protect their smiles while staying at the top of their game.
Sports and energy drinks: the hidden acid attack
The biggest risk for active people isn't impact, it's what's in the bottle. Most sports and energy drinks are both acidic and sugary, and sipping slowly across an hour-long match bathes your teeth in acid again and again. Over time that softens the enamel and causes erosion: thinning, sensitive, yellowed teeth that no amount of brushing brings back.
The NHS advises keeping sugary and acidic drinks to mealtimes and limiting how often you have them. For most training and recreational play, plain water is the kindest choice for your teeth. If you do reach for a sports drink, a few simple habits make a real difference:
- Drink it in one go rather than sipping over a long period, less time bathing the teeth in acid.
- Rinse with plain water afterwards to help neutralise the acid.
- Wait before brushing. Enamel is temporarily softened after acid, so leave it about an hour before brushing to avoid scrubbing it away.
- Use a straw where practical, to keep the drink off the front teeth.
Dry mouth and dehydration during play
Saliva is your mouth's natural defence: it washes away food, neutralises acid and carries the minerals that help repair enamel. When you exercise hard, especially outdoors on a warm Championships afternoon, you breathe through your mouth and lose fluid through sweat, so saliva flow drops. A dry mouth lets acids and bacteria linger longer, raising the risk of erosion and decay. Staying well hydrated with water protects your teeth as well as your performance.
Jaw clenching: the grip you don't notice
Watch any tennis player at full stretch and you'll often see a clenched jaw. Concentration and competitive tension encourage us to grit our teeth, and repeated, forceful clenching can wear down enamel, cause sensitivity, and trigger the jaw aches, clicking and morning headaches associated with TMD (temporomandibular disorder). If your jaw feels tense or sore after playing, it's worth being assessed. Our TMD and jaw pain treatment often starts with a simple custom splint to protect the teeth and settle the joint.
Championships fortnight is peak season for sports drinks and clenched jaws. Whether you're queuing on the Common, playing club tennis off the Ridgway, or following every point from the stands, the same advice applies: hydrate with water, keep the acidic drinks to a minimum, and book a check-up before the season ramps up. We're a short walk from the courts in Wimbledon Village, handy for a quick visit between training sessions.
Protecting against knocks, chips and trauma
Tennis is lower-contact than rugby or hockey, but accidents still happen, a stray racket, a mistimed ball or a slip on a hard surface can chip, loosen or knock out a tooth. If you also enjoy cycling, football, boxing or skating, the risk rises considerably. A custom-fitted mouthguard, made from an impression of your own teeth, cushions impact far more reliably than a boil-and-bite version from a sports shop, and stays comfortably in place while you breathe and call shots.
Risks and how to protect against them
Here's a quick summary of the main oral-health risks for active people, and the simplest ways to guard against each one:
| Risk | Why it happens | How to protect yourself |
|---|---|---|
| Acid erosion | Acidic, sugary sports & energy drinks sipped over long sessions | Choose water; rinse after; don't brush for an hour; keep acidic drinks to mealtimes |
| Tooth decay | Sugar in drinks and gels, plus reduced saliva | Limit sugary fuel; brush twice daily with fluoride toothpaste; regular hygiene visits |
| Dry mouth | Mouth-breathing and dehydration during exertion | Sip water throughout; avoid relying on sugary drinks to rehydrate |
| Jaw clenching / TMD | Tension and effort during competitive play | Be assessed for jaw pain; a custom night or day splint protects the teeth |
| Dental trauma | Knocks from rackets, balls, falls or contact sport | Wear a custom-fitted mouthguard; know the emergency steps for a knocked-out tooth |
Keep your smile match-fit in Wimbledon Village
From custom mouthguards and splints to erosion check-ups, Dr Elizabeth Crake and the team at The Dental Lounges Wimbledon help active SW19 residents protect their teeth. Same-day care available when accidents happen.
Book an appointment Explore general dentistryWhat to do in a dental emergency
Sports injuries to the mouth are stressful, but a calm, quick response makes a real difference, particularly with a knocked-out adult tooth, which has the best chance of being saved within the first hour. If a tooth is knocked out:
- Pick it up by the crown (the white part), never the root.
- If it's dirty, rinse it briefly in milk or saliva, not tap water, and don't scrub it.
- Try to reposition it gently back in the socket and bite on a clean cloth.
- If you can't, store it in milk (or in your cheek) and get to a dentist immediately.
For a chipped tooth, keep any fragments and call us. Our emergency dentist in Wimbledon keeps same-day urgent slots free every weekday, with free phone advice if you're unsure how serious it is. Save our number, 020 3034 4044, in your kit bag.
What it costs to stay protected
Prevention is always cheaper than repair. A routine check-up lets us spot early erosion or wear before it becomes a problem, and a custom mouthguard is a small investment next to the cost of restoring a damaged tooth. Here are some real, transparent prices for the care most relevant to active patients:
| Appointment / treatment | Price |
|---|---|
| New patient check-up (inc. 2 X-rays & oral cancer screening) | Contact us for current fees |
| Regular patient check-up | £80 |
| Standard hygiene clean | £90 |
| Premium Airflow clean | £120 |
| TMD consultation & bite analysis | Prices on request |
| Custom occlusal splint (night guard) | Prices on request |
| Emergency appointment (new patient / existing) | £150 / £120 |
| Free urgent phone advice | FREE |
Prices are confirmed at your appointment. See our full general & family dentistry page for the complete list.
Stay match-fit, smile included
Looking after your teeth shouldn't get in the way of an active life, it should support it. Hydrate with water, keep the sports and energy drinks to a minimum, take jaw tension seriously, and protect yourself from knocks with a properly fitted mouthguard. Add a regular check-up, and you've covered the lot. Whenever you're ready, our friendly team in Wimbledon Village is here to help you keep your smile as strong as your game.
Frequently asked questions
They can be. Most sports and energy drinks are acidic and often sugary, and sipping them slowly through a match bathes your teeth in acid for long periods, which softens enamel and causes erosion over time. The NHS recommends keeping acidic and sugary drinks to mealtimes and rinsing with plain water afterwards. For most short sessions, plain water is the kindest choice for your teeth.
Tennis is lower-contact than rugby or hockey, but a stray racket, ball or fall can still chip or knock out a tooth. If you play competitively, share a doubles court, or also enjoy contact or wheel sports, a custom-fitted mouthguard is worth considering. A professionally made guard fits far better and protects more reliably than a boil-and-bite version from a shop.
Act fast. Pick the tooth up by the crown (not the root), and if it's dirty rinse it briefly in milk or saliva. If you can, gently place it back in the socket and bite on a clean cloth; otherwise store it in milk and get to a dentist immediately. A knocked-out adult tooth has the best chance of being saved within the first hour, so call our Wimbledon emergency line straight away.
