Brushing and flossing aren’t enough for you? You’d be surprised to know that there’s more to oral hygiene than brushing and flossing.
Do you realize how intertwined every aspect of our body is? If you are aware of this, it will not be hard to comprehend that yoga plays an important role. Yoga’s benefits extend beyond improved flexibility and mental health; regular yoga practice can also aid dental health.
While this is never a substitute for regular visits to your downtown Ottawa dentist, yoga is known to have a few benefits for the health of your teeth and gums.
- Yoga helps improve your posture
There are numerous advantages to having a good posture. It helps you breathe better, strengthen your core muscles, enhance your mood, and boost your self-esteem. Maintaining good physical health also improves concentration, cognitive ability, productivity, and energy.
Having a good posture is also beneficial to your teeth. The majority of people believe that posture has nothing to do with oral health. However, research has revealed that our posture has a substantial impact on our dental health.
So, how do you do it?
Poor posture does not just affect the lumbar spine and neck. It also has an impact on the mouth. The lower jaw slips forward as a person slouches or hunches forward, forcing the upper and lower jaws to become misaligned. The spine is likewise compressed as the skull travels back.
Certified physiologists like those from the Oriole Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Centre can help improve spinal alignment, while regular yoga practice can help improve your spinal flexibility and support.
- Yoga Lowers Inflammation
Inflammation can cause a variety of health issues. If left untreated, it can also result in dental issues like periodontal disease and tooth decay. The inflammatory response can be localized or generalized across the body, but it can cause issues. Gum inflammation can be brought on by overall stress. This usually occurs when your body produces cortisol, a hormone that helps you cope with stress.
Your endocrine system sends out cortisone and floods your body when it goes into “fight or flight” mode. The role of cortisol is to function as an anti-inflammatory. It’s supposed to assist you in remaining calm in the event of a crisis. However, too much cortisol has the opposite effect, making individuals agitated and causing inflammation.
Since your body is continually saturated with cortisol, prolonged stress can induce chronic inflammation. This can cause chronic gum irritation and gingivitis. Restorative yoga postures that relax the endocrine system and help the body cope with excessive cortisol can also help reduce gum inflammation, which can lead to oral health issues.
- Improves Saliva Production
Saliva aids in the digestion of food particles facilitate swallowing and wash harmful bacteria and food debris away from the surface of the teeth and gums. Bacterial development in your mouth is less likely when you have more saliva.
If you do not have enough saliva to clear the microbes in your mouth, it can increase your risk of bad breath. Plaque build-up, gum disease, and tooth decay can all be exacerbated by severe dry mouth.
While performing certain yoga poses, you can learn and practice various breathing techniques. Saliva production is reported to be increased by forwarding folds, inverted positions, and certain twists.
- Minimizes Stress
Stress has been ingrained in our culture. You may be stressed about numerous things without even recognizing it, whether it’s your career, family, or other relationships. It has an impact not just on your overall health but also on your oral health.
Teeth grinding is a typical symptom in people who are anxious. This can result in tooth enamel erosion, microcracks, periodontal recession, loose teeth, painful jaw muscles, and a variety of other oral issues.
Furthermore, high-stress levels boost cortisol production, which can exacerbate gum edema. Inflammation of the gums can also raise the risk of dental caries.
Yoga, fortunately, is an established stress reliever. It assists your body and mind in relaxing, lowering your stress levels.
