During the COVID-19 pandemic, taking steps to maintain your health is key to assisting your immune system. However, with many states having enacted stay-at-home orders, individual exercise routines may have been disrupted and less healthy snacks have become more available.
Still, it is important to do your best to keep to a regular or proper exercise routine. Here is how proper exercise can contribute to better oral hygiene.
Benefits of Regular Exercise
There are a number of benefits from regular exercise. A few of these benefits contribute to your overall good health and also contributes to your oral health. First, regular exercise helps to control your weight because it helps to burn calories and keeps your body from converting those calories into fat.
Exercise also helps you to control a variety of health conditions and diseases. Regularly physical activity keeps your blood flowing smoothly and reduces your risk of cardiovascular disease. It also improves your mood and boosts your energy levels. With all the benefits that come from regular exercise, it is important to note that your oral health can be a sign of various diseases or conditions.
Conditions That Can Affect Your Oral Health
There are multiple conditions that can negatively impact your oral health but which can be positively controlled with proper exercise. One of these is diabetes, which can reduce the body’s resistance to infection and put your gums at increased risk of gum disease. People with gum disease also have a harder time controlling their blood sugar levels. To control diabetes, most doctors encourage regular exercise as part of controlling diabetes.
Another disease that can negatively impact your oral health is osteoporosis, which is a bone-weakening disease. It can end up contributing to periodontal bone loss and tooth loss. Certain drugs used to treat this condition can also increase the risk of damage to the bones of your jaw. Doctors encourage regular exercise as part of building up the strength and density of your bones, thus counteracting potential osteoporosis.
Oral health can also impact the increased likelihood of getting different diseases, such as cardiovascular disease. Research suggests that inflammation and infections from oral bacteria could contribute to heart disease, clogged arteries, and even strokes.
As you can see, physical activity and oral health are definitely linked. Now let’s talk about how you can protect your oral health.
Protecting Your Oral Health Daily
Clearly, your physical activity can help to protect your oral health by controlling various conditions and keeping your body in top physical shape. However, to compliment your physical activity, it is important to make sure you are maintaining your oral health. That includes regular flossing, brushing your teeth twice a day, using mouthwash to remove food particles, and using a fluoride toothpaste.
You also need to go for routine dental cleanings twice a year. Broomfield dental care does not have to be limited to seeing a dentist. You can also see a dental hygienist to receive that regular care. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, our team is following the recommended protocols to reduce the risk to our patients, while allowing them to maintain their oral health. Contact us today to set up an appointment for your next dental cleaning.