There are several things you can do to protect your smile from gum disease. But there’s one other strategy for maintaining healthy gums that you may not be aware of: getting plenty of exercise. Physical activity can have more of an impact than you might think on your oral health. Here’s why exercise can go a long way toward helping you keep gum disease at bay.

Gum disease is a serious oral health issue that can result in tooth loss and other severe consequences if it is not treated in a timely manner. What you may not realize, however, is that the chances of suffering from gum disease increase significantly as you get older. In fact, more than two-thirds of adults who are at least 65 years old have some form of gum disease. Your periodontist is here to explain how age and gum disease are linked as well as give you some tips for protecting your smile.