The Wonders of the Mouth-Body Connection

Because each part of your body is connected to the next, functioning as one complex and unified system, it becomes easy to see that the muscles throughout your body can influence your oral health and more.

Here are the main ways we see this relationship at work.

1. Regular exercise has been shown to decrease the risk of developing periodontal gum disease.

Periodontitis, also referred to as periodontal gum disease, is a gum infection that can damage gum tissue and, in more serious cases, damage the jawbone.

According to a report in the Journal of Dentistry, there is new evidence that shows that regular exercise can prevent periodontitis. The study looked at non-smokers, former smokers, and people who were still smoking. Non-smokers who engaged in regular exercise showed a 54% lower likelihood of developing periodontitis, while former smokers who regularly exercised had a 74% lower likelihood of developing periodontitis over former smokers who were inactive.

Unfortunately, the study found that those who were still smoking at the time of the study and exercised regularly did not show any improvements when compared with smokers who did not exercise.

2. Jaw exercises help alleviate TMJ pain.

TMJ pain, which is pain caused by the temporomandibular joint that connects your jawbone to your skull, can be eased with regular jaw exercises and practicing good posture. With this joint being used so often when chewing and talking, managing and preventing TMJ pain is particularly important for everyone.

There are two key exercises that can help alleviate TMJ pain. The first is to place your thumb underneath your chin to provide resistance as you open your mouth so you are working the muscles involved in opening your mouth and giving those responsible for closing it a chance to relax.

Now, keeping your thumb in that position, use the index finger of that same hand and place it on the ridge between your chin and lower lip. Gently put pressure on that area with your finger to provide some resistance as you close your mouth.

These can be done daily, and we are here to help if you have any questions regarding these exercises.

3. Exercise reduces stress and improves teeth-clenching habits.

Regular cardio exercise, as well as targeted jaw exercises, helps relieve stress through the neck and jaw so you can finally stop grinding your teeth and relax these muscles. Your teeth will thank you for it because they will not be getting worn down as much from the excessive force that might lead to an avoidable dentist appointment, and the muscles throughout your jaw and neck will also feel better as a result.

A great jaw exercise for relaxing the jaw and neck muscles is to open your mouth as wide as you comfortably can and reach out and touch the front of your teeth with your tongue. Keep doing this exercise throughout the day and especially before bedtime.

4. A healthy cardiovascular system improves circulation to your gums and teeth.

Regular exercise helps your body oxygenate better and increases circulation to all extremities of the body, including your mouth. While we have already mentioned periodontitis, better oxygenation and circulation, thanks to regular exercise, also helps your mouth fight against other infections while speeding up the recovery time from any kind of dental work you may have had done by pushing valuable blood and nutrients to your teeth and gums.

5. A lower BMI reduces the chances of developing cavity-causing carious lesions.

Your body mass index (BMI), a simple yet effective means for measuring an individual’s obesity, has now been shown to have a link to carious lesions in young people. Carious lesions are visible holes in a tooth’s surface due to the wall of the tooth weakening, and a study of over 2,000 school pupils between the ages of 6 and 10 found that students with a high BMI had a much higher ratio of carious lesions, even after adjusting for age and gender between students.

6. Regular exercise reduces the frequency and intensity of migraines.

Moving away from your oral health, research has found that regular exercise, be it cardio or weight lifting, has shown to reduce both the intensity and frequency of migraines and headaches. This is because as you exercise, your body releases endorphins, which act as natural painkillers while also helping to relax the body and provide a good night’s sleep, all of which play a huge role in preventing migraines.

7. Exercise improves the body’s anti-inflammatory response.

Inflammation is an important part of how your body functions; however, chronic inflammation can contribute to the development of diseases like Crohn’s disease, arthritis, heart disease, and even some types of cancer.

Scientists have now discovered that as little as 20 minutes of exercise can have anti-inflammatory effects on the body by helping to regulate the body’s immune system and inflammatory response, with profound effects for those suffering from chronic inflammation and the health problems that come with it.

8. Regular exercise regulates blood pressure and helps those with diabetes.

Harvard Medical School, in one of their recent publications, outlined that regular exercise not only helps regulate cholesterol levels and blood pressure throughout the body, but it also helps people with diabetes lower their blood glucose levels while also boosting the body’s sensitivity to insulin. Both of these can be life-changing for anyone with diabetes since high blood sugar levels can wreak havoc on the body, and developing insulin resistance can be life-threatening.

9. A healthy weight reduces the risk of sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea is a breathing disorder that causes the partial or complete blockage of the upper airway during sleep, and when it is untreated, it can cause sleep fragmentation, chronic hypertension, cognitive problems due to lack of rest and low oxygen levels, and even some types of stroke.

Sleep apnea is often associated with obesity and having a large neck circumference, where too much weight exists on the throat during sleep, although other factors that can contribute include old age or having a large tongue or tonsils. This means your dentist may be in a great position to monitor your oral physiology and determine your level of risk.

While obesity is not the sole cause, weight loss has been shown to reduce blood pressure caused by sleep apnea while opening up the throat, improving your breathing pattern, and increasing your daytime alertness.

10. Strengthening your core muscles improves posture as well as neck and back pain.

You will have likely heard this since you were young, but the reason why this is so well known is because of how true it is. Not only does poor posture lead to back and neck pain, it also creates headaches, disrupted digestion, and a poor quality of sleep.

The best way to overcome poor posture is by strengthening the muscles in your core, such as your abdominals and lower back. Regular stretching of both your front and back core areas, combined with a regular yoga or Pilates routine, can cure bad posture and relieve back and neck pain.