Your Workout May Help
You Beat Gum Infection
Heart-healthy habits are also good for your
oral health, new research shows.
According to a study published in the current issue of the Journal
of Periodontology, people who exercise, have healthy eating
habits and maintain a normal weight are 40 percent less likely
to develop periodontitis, a gum infection that can result in loss
of teeth.
The researchers from Case Western Reserve University drew their
conclusion from analysis of 12,110 individuals who participated
in the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey,
a cross-section survey conducted by the National Center for Health
Statistics.
Researchers concluded that exercise helps reduce inflammation
throughout the body, while healthy eating habits build the body's
defenses against disease and reduce the production of plaque.
Until now, brushing and flossing were the only health behaviors
that had been identified as helping to prevent periodontitis.
Experts say that more than 30 percent of the population suffers
from periodontitis, an infection that can lead to heart disease,
diabetes and pre-term labor.
More information
The National Institutes of Health
has more about periodontitis.
Reference
Source 101
August
30, 2005
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