Increased Physical Activity Decreases Prevalence of Periodonti- tis: The Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES Ⅵ) (2013-2015)

Periodontitis is one of the most common chronic diseases worldwide. The risk factors for perio-dontitis are not only systemic diseases, but also health behaviors, such as smoking, stress, nutri-tion, and physical activity (1). Regular physical activity improves the quality of life and enhances general health and well-being (2). Increased phys-ical activity is associated with improved insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism (3), improve the quality of sleep, and to play a role in the man-agement of anxiety and stress (4). In addition to all these health benefits, regular physical activity has a significant effect on reducing health care costs by reducing hospital visits and reducing medication needs (5). Studies have investigated the effect of regular physical activity on reducing the risk of some chronic diseases. However, only a limited number of studies have examined the relationship between physical activity and perio-dontitis.