Yoga is becoming increasingly popular as a way to improve physical fitness and flexibility, but did you know that this exercise could also provide some major benefits to your oral health? It’s true – yoga can improve your oral health in several ways, the greatest of which occurs by reducing your stress.
STRESS RELIEF WITH YOGA
High stress levels can lead to dental problems for a variety of reasons. If you carry your stress in your jaw, you may clench or grind your teeth. Additionally, people who are stressed out tend to neglect their dental care, and stress may also cause dry mouth.
Fortunately, yoga is a great way to alleviate stress. It promotes relaxation and calms the mind, reducing stress. Stress plays a major role in oral health issues like TMJ, and eliminating stress by practicing yoga can be an effective means to prevent TMJ and damage to the teeth.
OTHER WAYS THAT YOGA BENEFITS YOUR HEALTH
Yoga also helps to reduce inflammation, which is your body’s natural reaction to harmful stimuli. Bacteria in the mouth can result in gum inflammation, and chronic stress can worsen then condition. Therefore, by alleviating stress by practicing yoga, you can also help to reduce inflammation in your gums.
Additionally, yoga can also improve your posture, as poor posture will cause the lower jaw to move forward. This can result in TMJ disorder and can cause problems with chewing and swallowing. TMJ disorder may also result in problems in your jaw and face, so practicing yoga can help to prevent these issues.
A healthy mouth probably isn’t the first thing that you think about when you consider all of the benefits of yoga, but this exercise is actually an effective tool in helping us to feel more relaxed, which can help us to avoid a variety of dental problems.
Please contact us if you have any questions about yoga and your oral health!