Yoga is a therapeutic practice that benefits the body and the mind. The regular practice of yoga helps to improve circulation, flexibility, and the health of many bodily systems, including the teeth. These are a few ways that your oral health might benefit from yoga.

Stress Reduction

Yoga focuses on deep breathing techniques and clearing the mind of any lingering thoughts, so it is a great way to fight stress. While you may know how this improves your mental wellbeing, you may not realize that your teeth can also benefit. Stress relief can help with bruxism, or clenching and grinding of the teeth. Plus, people who are stressed may not prioritize their oral health, and when some of this burden is relieved, you may find it easier to remember to brush and floss regularly.

Saliva Production

The saliva is very important to your oral health. It is essential for washing away food particles and bacteria, and when your mouth dries out, bacteria levels will grow. Since yoga focuses on breathing, you’ll learn proper breathing techniques, some of which can prevent dry mouth. Certain poses – especially inversions – may also stimulate the production of saliva.

Inflammation Reduction

Yoga is known to fight inflammation, which offers some great benefits to your oral health. When the inflammatory response is inhibited, your risk for gum disease might also decrease. High stress levels increase the stress hormone cortisol, which can make gum swelling even worse. By reducing stress levels and cortisol production, you’ll also have a lower inflammatory response.

With all of these great oral health benefits of yoga, it is no surprise that people have been practicing it for centuries. It is great for your entire life, including the health of your smile. If you are interested in learning more about how to improve your oral health, please give us a call to set up an appointment.