YOGA BENEFITS ORAL HEALTH

INTRODUCTION

Yoga is a wonderful therapeutic practice 
for our bodies. The yoga in India was introduced from the Vedic period , which began in 1500 BCE. In 1980 yoga became a popular system of physical exercise across the western world following the success of Swami Vivekananda  in the late 19th and early 20th century. The word 'yoga' is derived from sanskrit word yuz , which means 'union'. It is said that purpose of  yoga is uniting the mind ,body and spirit.

BENEFITS OF YOGA

We can achieve improved health by practicing yoga. Yoga is not only considered as an exercise regimen but also  improves flexibility and balance , mood ,clearing one's thought and improving positivity for better life. Yoga helps to improve our mental wellbeing , circulation , the health of our muscle , joints and organs. Well, not only these , it improves your dental health as well. This is accomplished by asanas , pranayama and meditation.

YOGA REDUCES STRESS

We live in a modern civilization and this lifestyle leads to increased level of stress that results in many types of health problems which also includes dental problems.
You must be thinking how the stress is related to dental problems? Let me clear your doubt ..  

Stress wears down our body. The stressed individuals have a tendency to grind their teeth which can lead to the wearing down of the front teeth , which can also lead to gum recession due to pressure on gum line . The teeth to be ground down to the dentin results in sensitivity to hot and cold , the micro cracks and broken fillings leads to nerve damage. The motion of teeth grinding leads to loose teeth and formation of gum pockets. Headache and aching jaws occurs due to overworked jaw muscles.
Yoga is proven to be useful in relieving pain and stress . Its effective in reducing stress, anxiety and improving health status.

YOGA REDUCES INFLAMMATION

Inflammation is also related to stress level. According to a research it is believed that yoga helps to reduce inflammation in the body by alleviating stress. Severe  stress increases the plasma levels of pro inflammatory cytokines. It reduces the level of immunoglobulin​ A (IgA) and causes immune deficiency  and increased susceptibility to infections. This also leads to chronic gingival inflammation with bleeding gums and foul smell. 

Yoga reduces the resting levels of inflammatory cytokines like TNF-∞ and IL-6. Yoga practitioners have achieved 20% reduction in oxidative stress which helps to reduce inflammatory response in gingiva.

YOGA IMPROVES POSTURE

Good posture leads to many benefits like improved breathing, stronger core muscles, a healthier mood and better confidence, better memory and brain function, less stress, better productivity, and more energy. Simply sitting upright when stressed may be an effective way to maintain self-esteem and increase a positive mood. Posture also impacts the health of our teeth and gum. Poor posture affects spine and neck and also the mouth. When a person slouches, the lower jaw shifts forward causing the upper and lower jaw to come out of alignment. The skull also moves back and compresses the spine. This movement puts stress on the surrounding muscles joints and bones, and can create pain and inflammation when the mouth opens and closes.This will lead to jaw issues like TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT (TMJ) disorder. This is a common medical condition related with the issue of upper and lower jaw. The side effect include headache, pain and clicking sound when opening the jaw, tenderness of jaw and face. 

So by practicing yoga improve your posture and take the strain off the jaw and prevent the whole world of issues. 

YOGA STIMULATES SALIVA

Saliva is considered as a key ingredient for washing away bacteria and food particles. When the salivary gland slow down the production of saliva , it leads to dry mouth and allows bacteria to grow. Thats also the reason for bad breath. Dry mouth causes plaque buildup ,tooth decay and gum disease. 

Practicing yoga to learn proper breathing techniques that prevents your mouth from drying out. It stimulates the salivary gland. Yoga poses  such as forward bends , twists and inverted poses are known to increase saliva. 

CONCLUSION 

Yoga practice with good oral hygiene practices including teeth brushing ,flossing and regular dental cleanings by dentists/ dental hygienist is an effective way to promote healthy teeth and gums. If you don't think yoga is for you ,we hope we have changed your mind. 

INVEST YOURSELF IN YOGA , IT WILL RETURN TO YOU WITH PROFIT !!

                                     DR. ANJUSHA SHARDA