Ever since you were younger, you may have heard the importance of exercising. It has many benefits to your overall health, from making your heart stronger to reducing your chances of developing a mental disorder. However, this simple act can also help you fight off gum disease! According to recent research, you may be 54% less likely to get it. Keep reading to learn more.
What is Gum Disease?
Before you dive into how working out can help with your oral health, you may not be entirely familiar with gum, or periodontal, disease. Simply put, this is an infection in the soft tissues of your mouth. It can happen due to poor oral hygiene, smoking, and certain medical conditions, to name a few.
If you have this condition, then you may notice your gums are more tender than they used to be. It’s often common that they appear noticeably red and swollen. When you brush or floss, you may experience some bleeding. When it’s left untreated, you even risk tooth loss.
How Does Exercise Help with Gum Disease?
The good news is that preventing periodontal disease is simple through routine visits with your dentist, consistent at-home dental hygiene, and adjusting some lifestyle habits. However, exercise has also been shown to be fruitful in reducing your risk for this condition! Here’s how:
- Working out helps boost your immune system by stimulating how much your body makes leukocytes. These cells are responsible for fighting off any bacteria and viruses that can cause problems. They become more active when you are more active yourself!
- Chronic inflammation can spell bad news because it can weaken your body’s response to infection. However, when you exercise, it reduces swelling by increasing the number of anti-inflammatory cells.
- Getting your heart pumping can help improve circulation. This is beneficial as the leukocytes in your bloodstream are able to move around your body and tackle any harmful bacteria.
What Are Some Exercises I Can Do?
Even if you would say that exercising isn’t exactly your forte, it can help out your oral and overall health! Everyone is different, so finding the right workouts for you can be easier than you think. You don’t need to immediately start out with intense activities, but rather with mild to moderate ones.
For instance, you can do a short walk for about 10 minutes or do yoga. There are ways you can make it more fun by dancing along to your favorite songs or playing an exercise video game. Some people find that doing seated workouts is best for them, but it just depends on what you are comfortable with. In the end, you not only benefit your body but also your oral health by preventing gum disease!
About the Practice
At Complete Dental Care, you benefit from the compassionate leadership of Dr. James Kostas and Dr. Donna Pereira. With them on our team, we are able to offer a wide range of treatments to tackle a variety of oral health issues, like periodontal disease. We are happy to help you prevent these types of problems through state-of-the-art tools and technology. If your gums tend to bleed when you brush or floss, schedule an appointment or call our office at (781) 272-0441.
