This summer is vastly different from any other summer that has come before it. Instead of hanging around the community pool or vacationing on the beach, everyone is understandably staying inside to slow the spread of COVID-19. However, you can still take walks outside, provided you maintain a good distance between you and other walkers. There are all kinds of health reasons why you should take regular walks in the sun. One of them is that daily sun exposure can help prevent gum disease. To learn how walking outside can keep your gums healthy, keep reading below.
What Is Gum Disease?
Also known as periodontal disease, gum disease occurs when plaque builds up along your teeth and hardens into a substance called tartar. Bacteria in tartar then irritate your gums, causing bleeding when you brush or floss, red or swollen gums, bad breath, or a persistent unpleasant taste in your mouth. If gum disease isn’t treated in a timely manner, the bacteria might attack the structures keeping your teeth anchored in place, making them come loose or even fall out. In fact, gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in the United States. To preserve your full smile, you’ll want to avoid gum disease at all costs.
How Does Being Outside Prevent Gum Disease?
Vitamin D is an essential nutrient, meaning we need it to thrive, but our bodies don’t make it. Luckily, you can soak up your daily dose of vitamin D just by hanging outside in the sunlight for a few minutes. It gets absorbed into your skin, where it begins its job of strengthening your bones and teeth as well as boosting your immune system to help you fight off infections like gum disease.
It’s estimated that one billion people worldwide aren’t getting enough of the vitamin D their bodies need. Since all you need to do to receive your recommended dose is to spend some time outside, there’s no excuse to be deficient in vitamin D. Take a socially distant walk around the neighborhood. You could even just sit in the front yard for a few minutes. The important thing is that you absorb at least a little sunlight every day.
How Else Can You Keep Your Gums Healthy?
Spending quality time in the sun isn’t the only thing you need to do to prevent gum disease. You need to brush and floss every day to keep plaque from hardening into tartar. Visit your dentist at least twice a year for a cleaning to remove any plaque you may have missed. Lastly, avoid bad oral habits like smoking and consuming a lot of sugary foods and drinks.
Most of us may be under quarantine these days, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun in the sun this summer. As long as you stay at least six feet away from others, enjoy yourself however you want outside. It could save your smile!
About the Author
Dr. Cher Rich graduated from the University of Texas at Houston Dental School with her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in 2002. Upon earning her degree, she worked in the dental field, opening her own Houston office in 2007. She loves forging relationships with her patients and helping them maintain healthy and beautiful smiles, including creating personalized plans for each patient to help them avoid gum disease. To learn more about how you can keep your smile healthy, contact Dr. Rich at (281) 469-6281.