Exercise strengthens teeth and jaw bones, dentist warns

Science has found a connection between the gym and strong teeth, said the founder of the federal network of clinics “Teeth in one day” Zalim Kudaev. He shared his comment with Lenta.ru.

The jawbone is a part of the skeleton that obeys the same laws of remodeling as the femur, spine or lower leg, the expert explained. According to him, mechanical stress stimulates osteoblasts - cells that build new bone tissue. Without load, they “sleep”, and osteoclasts - bone destroyers - continue to work, as a result of which the bone becomes thinner.

The specialist reported that in 2020, a study was published in the journal Bone in which 42 mice were divided into three groups: sedentary, aerobic and strength. The training lasted 8 weeks.

A meta-analysis published in BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation in 2023 combined 30 studies, 20 of which showed that physical activity is associated with a lower prevalence of periodontitis, an inflammatory disease that destroys alveolar bone and leads to tooth loss, the source added.

The expert noted that a meta-analysis published in Revista Brasileira de Medicina do Esporte confirmed that physical exercise statistically significantly reduces alveolar bone loss in periodontitis - by 1.83 units compared with untrained groups.

“During training, the level of pro-inflammatory substances in the body first increases - this is a normal reaction to stress. Then protection is turned on: interleukin-10 (IL-10) increases, which acts as a “brake” and prevents inflammation from destroying bone tissue. This is exactly the effect that makes regular exercise beneficial for bones and teeth,” explained Kudaev.

However, sports drinks, dry mouth and bruxism can negate the benefits of exercise if simple hygiene rules are not followed, he concluded.