The SEPA Congress Barcelona 2025 has once again highlighted a truth that is increasingly supported by science: oral health is a direct reflection of our lifestyle. In a particularly innovative session, experts from different disciplines demonstrated how to conscious eating, physical exercise and stress management have a decisive influence on the health of the gums... and on overall wellbeing.
“The impact of what we eat and how we move on inflammation in the body is now well documented. And this opens up a very powerful avenue for preventing and managing chronic diseases such as periodontitis,” explains periodontist Agustín Casas, moderator of the meeting.
Periodontitis is part of the group of chronic non-communicable diseases, as well as cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases and type 2 diabetes. All of them share risk factors closely linked to lifestyle: poor diet, sedentary lifestyles and chronic stress. That is why today it is no longer conceivable to take care of oral health without taking care of the rest of the body.
“The mouth is not an isolated compartment. It is part of the body and responds to the same imbalances that affect our overall health,” says Casas. In fact, small, sustained changes in daily habits can improve both oral health and overall quality of life. Reducing chronic inflammation is one of the keys to this balance., and the mouth is one of the first places where its benefits are reflected.
“Science confirms that the body functions as an interconnected network. Exercise, stress and systemic inflammation are also reflected in oral health,” explains Cristina Vera, an expert in sports physiotherapy and myofascial induction. Her message is clear: you can't talk about health without integrating all disciplines.
Although at first glance physical exercise and dental health seem worlds apart, they share a common goal: improving patient wellbeing in a holistic and sustainable manner. “When professionals from different areas work together, the results are more profound and long-lasting,” says Vera, who advocates incorporating movement and healthy habits as part of dental treatment, even improving long-term adherence.
In addition, dental clinics have proven to be privileged spaces for prevention. They are one of the few places where even healthy people go on a regular basis, offering a unique opportunity to make small changes that have a big impact on overall health.
“Talking about exercise, rest, nutrition or stress management does not mean leaving the dental field, it means treating the patient as a whole,” Vera stresses. There is no single exercise guideline for taking care of the mouth, but there are universal principles: regularity, balance, combination of strength and endurance. Walk daily, climb stairs, move more... and, at least 4 or 5 days a week, incorporate strength and resistance training. All this helps to reduce stress, regulate cortisol and modulate inflammation, with direct benefits for the gums.
Chronic low-grade inflammation is today one of the great silent enemies of health. And physical exercise is positioned as one of the most important more powerful and accessible anti-inflammatory tools. “Regular physical activity improves circulation, tissue oxygenation and immune response. All this translates into better periodontal and bone health,” Vera explains. Recent studies show that active people have a lower prevalence and severity of periodontitis, precisely because of their ability to modulate inflammation.
And the relationship is two-way: poor oral health can also increase systemic inflammation., This can affect muscle recovery, increase fatigue and even increase the risk of injury. In high-performance sport this is well known: a simple active cavity can alter performance. “It is a constant dialogue between the mouth and the rest of the body, and the scientific evidence is increasingly solid,” concludes the expert.
Diet is another of the main pillars of this equation. Dr. Sari Arponen, PhD in Biomedical Sciences and an internist, has delved into the relationship between nutrition, inflammation and periodontal health, The focus is on the role of the microbiota.
“What we eat can create an anti-inflammatory environment that protects our gums, or the opposite,” he says. A poor diet promotes a systemic inflammatory state that directly impacts oral health, and periodontal disease can, in turn, perpetuate that low-grade inflammation with repercussions throughout the body.
From a mindful approach, real foods - fruits, vegetables, fresh and minimally processed foods - are allies of oral health. In contrast, ultra-processed foods, free sugars and alcohol act as major saboteurs of inflammatory balance and oral microbiota.
A diet rich in antioxidants, fibre, healthy fats such as omega-3s and essential micronutrients (vitamin C, D and minerals) helps to strengthening the immune response and healing of periodontal tissues. The relationship between nutrition and oral health is, again, bidirectional: a healthy mouth facilitates good nutrition, and good nutrition protects the mouth.
All experts agree on one point: the dental practice is a privileged place to promote healthy lifestyle habits.. Brief advice, nutritional counselling or a referral to another professional can make all the difference.
“Health education does not have to be extensive to be transformative,” says Dr Arponen. That's why she believes it is key for oral health professionals to have a solid foundation in nutrition and inflammation, and to work in coordination with other specialists.
As Dr. Casas summarises, “if we understand that diet, movement and oral health feed back on each other, the joint approach is undoubtedly the path to a more complete, conscious and lasting health”.
