How Exercise Keeps Your Mouth Healthy

Finding time to exercise isn’t always easy; with busy lives and hectic schedules, it’s sometimes tricky to fit a trip to the gym into our daily routine. But working out has many benefits—including some you probably aren’t aware of. In addition to helping you lose weight or gain muscle strength, regular exercise can also protect your mouth from periodontal disease! Keep reading to learn about how exercise can keep your smile healthy.

How Does Exercise Benefit My Smile?

Research shows that people who live an active lifestyle, meaning they exercise on a regular basis, are 54% less likely to suffer from gum disease. This is because working out helps to reduce level of inflammation throughout your entire body—including the inflammation that is associated with gum disease!

Exercise also improves the functionality of your digestive system; as blood pumps quickly throughout your body, your bowel movements become more effective. When your digestive tract is working at peak efficiency, your body’s tissues become more resistant to infection which also helps to lower the risk of gum disease. You’re also able to get the full benefits of the vitamins and minerals that you consume, which in turn will strengthen and protect your teeth and gums against bacteria.

Additionally, regular exercise is an important part of weight management; if you’re overweight, you are more likely to develop problems such as sleep apnea, which can also directly impact your oral health.

Tips For Taking Care of Your Body and Your Smile

Your body’s health and your oral health are connected; protecting one will help you to protect the other. To keep your mouth and the rest of you in good shape, you should:

• Exercise regularly (3 to 5 times per week).
• Maintain a balanced diet (plenty of natural food and vegetables).
• Avoid processed foods with excessive sugars, syrups, and acids.
• Drink plenty of water—this will hydrate you and help keep your mouth clean.
• Brush your teeth twice daily and use dental floss and mouthwash.
• Visit your dentist for routine checkups and teeth cleanings.

You might have your belly in mind every time you step onto the treadmill, but you should also be thinking about your mouth—exercise greatly benefits it, too! Keep working hard to keep your body and your smile in tip-top shape.

About the Author

Dr. Jacob Milner and his awesome team at Dolfield Dental of Owings Mills have proudly served patients in their area for several years! Dr. Milner received his dental degree from the University of Maryland School of Dentistry and has completed advanced training in many areas including preventive, restorative, and cosmetic dentistry. If you have any questions about the article or would like to schedule an appointment with Dr. Milner, please reach out through his website or by telephone: (410) 902-4110.