{"id":361,"date":"2026-03-05T21:24:55","date_gmt":"2026-03-05T21:24:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.murphydentalhome.com\/blog\/?p=361"},"modified":"2026-03-27T21:26:30","modified_gmt":"2026-03-27T21:26:30","slug":"can-exercise-promote-gum-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.murphydentalhome.com\/blog\/2026\/03\/05\/can-exercise-promote-gum-health\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Exercise Promote Gum Health?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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It\u2019s believed that nearly half of adults over 30 in the U.S. have some form of periodontal, or gum, disease. That may be a nerve-racking statistic, but you can do your part to ensure you land in the group that doesn\u2019t have to deal with it. One way that you can boost both your oral and overall health<\/a> is by exercising. Working out can benefit the soft tissues in your mouth, so here\u2019s what you should know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

How Are My Oral and Overall Health Connected?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When you have an infection in your gums, it often starts out with inflammation and noticeable redness. It might be easy to ignore these symptoms, but it’s important that you don’t leave them untreated. As it advances, the soft tissues can recede or lead to tooth loss in more severe cases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, physical activity can be helpful against the initial symptoms you have. According to a study in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology<\/em>, those who exercise often show less inflammation, along with lower bone and attachment loss. This means that getting your heart pumping can be a great way to boost your gum health and lower your risk of periodontal disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another study in the Journal of Dentistry<\/em> also found that those who work out regularly had a 54% lower likelihood of this condition. Even those who did it three times a week or less had a 33% less chance, according to The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, How Much Exercise Should I Do?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Since physical activity can do good things for your smile, your next question might be how much of it you should do. The Department of Health and Human Services recommends you do around 150 minutes of moderate cardiovascular exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise every week. Granted, it may be tough to jump into this if you aren’t used to it, so you can ease your way up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other Tips to Protect Your Smile<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While you are getting in the groove of working out, don’t forget to take care of your smile during it! Here are a few tips you can follow:<\/p>\n\n\n\n