Aerobics for Healthy Gums

Working out is good for almost everything else, so why not your teeth and gums?

Until now, brushing and flossing were the only health behaviors that had been identified as helping to prevent gum disease. But a study of 12,000 people published in the Journal of Periodontology reveals that regular gym-goers who participate in a range of classes, such as aerobics, are 40 percent less likely to develop periodontitis, a gum infection that can result in loss of teeth and lead to an increased risk of heart disease and diabetes. The study found that exercise reduces inflammation throughout the body and so boosts oral health.