What does taking a walk have to do with oral health? As we flip the calendar into the new year, we often take stock of the habits we ought to continue, modify, add, or discard. With that in mind, we ought to take a look at healthy habits that are easy to continue or to adopt and that give great benefits for little effort. So let me re-introduce you to an overlooked oral health-promoting habit that yields great results with little additional effort – taking a walk.
The mouth is an integral part of the whole body, so it should come as no surprise that when we discuss actions that promote the health of the rest of the body, the oral cavity and its contents should share in those benefits.
Possibly the most significant but undervalued effect of regular walking is its positive effect on the cardiovascular system. Effective blood circulation directly affects every cell in the body, including the periodontal tissues (gingiva, ligaments, and bone) and the endodontic tissues. The cardiovascular system’s primary function is to deliver nutrients and oxygen while removing waste products and carbon dioxide. However, other contents in the blood, including immune system mediators and pain-modulating factors, also help create a more comfortable and disease-resistant dentition and periodontium. When we walk, our cardiovascular system improves and does its job better.
Another benefit from regular walking is that it improves the ability to sleep more restfully due to better oxygenation and sleep-enhancing healthy mental rejuvenation. When we sleep more restfully, we tend to clench and grind our teeth less vigorously, reducing the risks of chipping and breaking teeth and restorations and creating abfraction lesions – costly, potentially painful, unsightly, and needless pathologies.
A further benefit of regular walking is that it can be done solo, as a couple, or in a group without expensive gear or training.
So, for yourself and those you love, go take a walk.
Kevin H. Norige, DMD, is the founder and chief dentist at South Windsor Smiles, a private dental practice that focuses on oral health as part of the whole-body system. For 35 years, he has worked with patients to achieve healthy mouths and live healthier lives.
Call 860.288.2111 or visit: SouthWindsorSmiles.com.
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