The health of the general public has increasingly become a concern to millions of Americans. Unfortunately, many of our lives are already hectic as it is, so it’s sometimes difficult to squeeze in even a small amount of exercise, despite the fact that it’s essential for good health. But what if we told you that you can get a little exercise each day while you’re brushing your teeth?
You probably already know that it’s recommended that you brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes each time. Four minutes per day might not seem like much, but it all adds up in the end. Why not use that time to your advantage? To get you started, here are a few simple exercise that you can do to lose a few calories while waging the war on plaque:
Squats
Doing this exercise is a great way to improve your flexibility and will go a long way to strengthening your core. To perform a proper squat, first pull your hips and buttocks back as you go down toward a sitting position. Your knees should stick out a bit toward your toes if you have the correct form, but they should not protrude past your toes. Keep your back straight and feet flat on the floor. If your knees move inward, you’re doing the exercise incorrectly. Then just push yourself back up and repeat the motion.
Lunges
You’ll need a little more room in your bathroom to perform this exercise, but if you can pull it off, more power to you! Keep your upper body straight, with your shoulders back. Take a step forward with your left leg and lower your hips until that leg’s knee is at 90 degrees. Your rear knee should touch the ground. Then repeat with your right leg, and alternate accordingly. If you’re on point, you can get quite a few of these done in that scant two minutes.
Calf Raises
This is one of the easiest exercises to do while brushing your teeth, or even just in general, and are quite effective at toning and shaping your legs. All you need to do is stand with your feet directly over your hips, then lift your heels. At the apex of the lift, lower yourself right back down again and you’ve already done one. Make sure, of course, that you’re doing this is a slow and controlled motion to get the most benefit out of it.
Single Leg Balancing
For this exercise, the idea isn’t to burn calories so much but rather improve your balance. If you don’t wish to exert yourself at times, this might be the perfect one for you. It’s performed by lifting one leg to the front, then the back, and finally to the side. And, of course, you switch to the other leg and do it again. For a real challenge, try performing this balance technique with your eyes closed. Just don’t get upset with us if you get a dab of toothpaste on your shirt. This will improve as your balance improves.
There are numerous ways that you can start improving your dental health today. Contact the offices of Bruce C. McArthur, DDS and we’ll get you started right away!