Want to know another reason -- beyond those you can already think of -- why you should keep doing all those pull-ups, running all those miles, hiking all those trails, swimming all those laps, and playing all those sports? See how this one suits you: staying out of the dentist's chair.

The Journal of Periodontology reports that regular exercise can greatly reduce a person's risk of gum disease. In tests, men who put in a solid 45-minute workout three times a week were 40 percent less likely to develop gum problems than men who avoided workouts like ... well, like most people avoid the dentist.

Maintaining healthy gums is important for overall health. Numerous studies have linked periodontal disease to more serious health issues, such as an increased risk of heart disease and stroke.

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Yogurt is a tasty way to help reduce the risk of periodontal disease, says a recent report from the Journal of Periodontology.

According to the study eating as little as a half a cup of yogurt (about 55g) per day is enough to reduce your chances of getting this disease -- a chronic bacterial infection that affects the gums and bones supporting the teeth -- by almost 50 percent, thanks in large part to a probiotic found in most fermented milk products.

Popular health website RealAge.com considers the following brands to be among the healthiest yogurt choices: Dannon Light & Fit (regular, Carb Control, and Creamy), Stonyfield Farm MOOve Over Sugar, and Yoplait Light.

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When it comes to brushing your teeth, applying more pressure helps get your teeth as clean as possible, right? Wrong -- and you can even be doing your chompers some damage by cleaning them too hard, according to studies. Brushing too hard for too long--not to mention brushing improperly--can lead to problems like gum recession, periodontal disease and tooth sensitivity. Ouch!

Some tips:

• Make sure you use a soft-bristled tooth brush--ditch that hard or medium one pronto!
• Make sure you only brush your teeth for 2 minutes tops. Consider buying an electric toothbrush that will time it out for you.
  
• If you choose an non-electric brush, make sure you hold it at a 45-degree angle and brush up and down or in circles from the tip of the tooth right up to the gum line.

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