TOOTH FITNESS: THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EXERCISE AND ORAL HEALTH

Abstract

Recent studies have shown that over 70 million Americans are obese with 99 million being overweight. In addition to this study, the CDC reported that over half of all Americans age 30 and older have a form of periodontal disease. The purpose of this study is to identify remedies that do not involve medication, such as exercise, that can reduce inflammation and promote good oral hygiene as well as reduce risk factors for related disease. It is an important aspect of modern medicine, for doctors to have the ability to prescribe effective lifestyle changes along with certain antibiotics. The end goal of this study is to encourage dentists to remind their patients to be exercising regularly. In addition to a patient’s oral hygiene routine, exercise will help reduce the risk for periodontal disease. For this reason, I have found it necessary to conduct a literary review that focuses on the effects exercise has on the inflammatory response within the mouth. This will provide crucial evidence for dentists in the Tucson community and further increase the dental education they give to their patients.