Sports and gums: a surprising link you may not know about

When we think of work out, we think of physical well-being, fitness, energy, heart working better, muscles getting stronger... but hardly anyone thinks of the gums!

Yet, physical activity and oral health Are much more connected than we imagine.

La Italian Society of Periodontology and Implantology (SIdP) recently turned the spotlight on this link, explaining how one healthy lifestyle is one of the fundamental pillars for prevent and control periodontitis, a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the gums and supporting tissues of the teeth.

Why sports help (but only if your gums are healthy)

According to experts, Those who practice regular physical activity also tends to do other healthy choices:

• follows a'better nutrition
• sleeps more and better
• devotes more attention to theoral hygiene
• limits smoking and alcohol

All this helps not only to prevent periodontitis, but also to Reduce overall inflammation in the body, which is related to many other chronic diseases.

But beware: If the gums are already inflamed, the benefits of sports are likely to be reduced! Studies have shown that periodontitis can even impair cellular health by affecting the length of telomeres, those DNA structures linked to longevity.

In summary: if you want sports to be good for the body, you have to start from the mouth as well.

Not all physical activity is equal

The research highlights an interesting fact:

• l'recreational physical activity, made in his spare time, Reduces the risk of severe periodontitis by up to 28%; physically demanding jobs, on the other hand, can increase this risk (this is what experts call paradox of physical activity)
• so, well walking, running, biking, swimming, team sports; beware, however, of the continuous and poorly managed physical overload typical of some manual labor.

SIdP's practical advice

To help patients take care of their gum health, SIdP has developed a practical decalogue, available at gums.org.

Here are some key points:

- Do at least two and a half hours of physical activity moderate to intense per week
- Follow a'Balanced, Mediterranean-style diet, rich in fruits, vegetables and omega-3s (oily fish, salmon, nuts)
- Reduce sugar, smoking and alcohol
- Taking care of one's oral hygiene steadily
- Sleep well and keep stress under control
- Maintain adequate hydration

Taking care of the gums isn't just about preventing tooth decay or bad breath-it's about preserving teeth, protecting overall health, and also getting the most out of everything we do to stay healthy, including sports.

[Medical Director: Dr. Mauro Savio, Member of the Dentists Register Provincial Order of Surgeons and Dentists of Milan n. 4168].