IMPORTANCE OF YOGA IN STIMULATING ORAL HEALTH

Modern day habits, sedentary lifestyles, agitated work schedule and lack of physical activity results in stress accumulation within the body.

Stress contributes considerably to the pathological process of periodontal diseases

Hence, it becomes vital to scale back the amount of stress for interference and management of diseases.

Yoga is one of  the foremost effective treatments  for stress.  

Yoga reduces stress, improves the  oxidative status of the body,  improves the  system and reduces chronic gingival inflammation. 

Yoga conjointly improves the lifestyle more towards the natural.

STRESS AND YOGA

Stress is that the reason for 

• Deprived quality of life
• Lower psychological state
• Reduced work potency 
• Greater suffering 
• Increased physician visits
• Accumulation of work pressures
• Inactive lifestyle
• Lack of physical activities
• Altered sleep pattern

That in turn ends up in 

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Mental health issues and 
• Leads to lack of motivation 
• Temperament disorders. 

This results in a vicious circle of stress. 

Psychological stress and yoga are believed to be reciprocally related. 

Stress induces imbalance of the involuntary nervous system with decreased activity of the parasympathetic nervous system and increased activity of the sympathetic nervous system. 

Autonomic imbalance is closely related to anxiety. 

Scientific proof supports the idea that yoga benefits physical and mental state via down-regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and therefore the sympathetic nervous system. 

Yoga offers comprehensive solutions for managing health as a whole. 

It will cause reduction of stress levels and thereby prevent autonomic dysregulation. 

Reduction in perceived stress levels ends up in lesser negative feelings of tension and depression, improved sense of well-being, and higher sensory-motor performance and hand grip endurance.

Stress response is the mechanism by which the body reacts to any threat or damage. 

An automatic method called “fight or flight” comes into play because of the body’s defence mechanism, throughout a time of danger.

A stressful regime might not solely cause general disorders however it may cause oral health connected issues comparable to 

• Gum diseases
• Dental caries
• Autoimmune disorders
• Burning mouth syndrome 
• Xerostomia 
• Carcinoma may be detected in patients. 

Stress can exaggerate and might cause even tooth loss. 

Stressful people offer lesser significance for oral health maintenance.

Yoga is an ancient Indian observer being employed for maintaining physiological condition and to stop the prevalence of the many diseases.

Yoga is said to unite the body , mind, soul and prevents the impairment of cellular immunity secondary to stress. 

Yoga is one in all the choice drugs for various physiological diseases and psychological disorders. 

Scientific literature supports the belief that yoga heals the body via down regulation of the HPA axis and sympathetic nervous system. 

The levels of cytokines like TNFα, IL-6 are reduced by the regular practise of yoga. 

It additionally rallies the oxidative status of the body thereby reduces the stresses of life. 

Identified for its helpful effects on each physiological and psychological parameters, yoga helps to take care of quality of life

PERIODONTITIS AND STRESS

Dental plaque deposit on teeth may be a concern attributable to its cosmetic and infective nature. 

Presence of plaque could also be the offender for 

• Dental caries
• Gingivitis
• Periodontal problem
• Halitosis. 

Periodontal disease is one among the main dental diseases that have an effect on human populations worldwide at high prevalence rates. 

The signs and symptoms of periodontal disease embody 

• Swollen gums
• Deepening of gingival crevice resulting in the formation of periodontal pocket
• Bleeding on brushing
• Increased spacing between the teeth
• Loose teeth
• Tooth loss
• Edentulism. 

Researchers have concluded earlier that when smoking, stress is the major issue affecting the periodontal condition. 

The effects of periodontitis extend beyond the mouth and also the spread of each microorganism and microorganism products originating within the oral biofilms and inflamed periodontium, via blood affects the body. 

The premise for periodontitis progression is principally through inflammatory destruction that is aggravated by stress. 

The people who are physically dynamic have reduced inflammatory markers as compared to folks with a sedentary fashion. 

Psychosocial stress will affect the periodontal tissues directly through biological mechanisms and indirectly through the changes in lifestyle adore ignoring oral hygiene measures, smoking a lot of heavily, and intense more fat and sugar in diet. 

Hence, there are 2 projected mechanistic links: 

• Biological 
• Behavioral.

Pro inflammatory cytokines such IL-6 ,TNF-α are accountable for periodontitis progression. 

Regular physical activity is associated with reduced levels of IL6 and other proinflammatory cytokines. 

Pranayama exercises will be performed in adjunct to SRP. pranayama can be used as extra modality to produce a replacement faucet within the treatment of periodontitis.

Photo credit: MyUpchar (wikipedia commons)

DRY MOUTH

Saliva, a key ingredient for washing away bacteria and food debris, contains antibacterial enzymes that break down food and make food easier to swallow. 

When the salivary glands slow down the production of saliva, bacteria is allowed to grow. 

That is how "morning breath" occurs. 

A dry mouth creates an environment where bacteria can thrive. 

Chronic dry mouth can then cause plaque buildup, tooth decay, and gum disease. 

The breathing techniques practiced as part of yoga stimulates the salivary glands and prevents the oral cavity from drying. 

The forward bends, twists and inverted poses of yoga are known to increase the amount of spittle made by the salivary glandsPracticing yoga may be a good way to be told correct respiratory techniques that facilitate stopping your mouth and throat from drying out. 

It may stimulate the salivary glands. 

Yoga poses such as forward bends, twists, and inverted poses are noted to extend saliva production.

Photo credit: www.scientificanimations.com (wikipedia commons)

ORAL CANCER

Yoga can scale back the chronic gingival inflammation, body defense will act a lot with efficiency in gingival bacteria and all along will improve the symptoms of gingival inflammation and therefore improve the health of gingiva. 

All these effects conjointly help within the maintenance of healthy gingiva.Oral cancer exhibits decrease in cell death, whereas it will increase just in case of neurodegenerative disorders and therefore each have an inverse relation. 

The first experimental cellular biomarkers like 

• Nerve growth factor (NGF)
• Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α)
• Interleukin-6 (IL6) 

are accustomed to review the intonation of oral cancer, obesity, and neurodegenerative disorders. 

Intervention through yoga practise influences these molecules and alters them in carcinoma patients. 

Respiration creates theta waves in the brain which can presumably normalize the molecular expression of neurotrophic nerve growth factor. 

Respiration exercises in yoga intensifies the parasympathetic power, pneumogastric tone, and reduces sympathetic discharges that sequentially generates theta waves in the brain which ultimately affects the NGF expression.

CONCLUSION

Yoga is effective in hindrance of dental diseases and maintenance of oral hygiene and healthy gum by 

• Improving the lifestyle
• Reducing the stresses and 
• Reducing the gingival inflammation
• Right from plaque build up to enamel erosion and caries are often prevented by 

• Reducing stress

• Improving posture and 

• Stimulating saliva production. 

Yoga, with its slow breathing, progressive exercise, that encompasses meditation and relaxation, is an integrated system that balances the body, energy, mind, and emotions synergistically, enabling each individual to achieve its potential, no matter the age, sex, and phenotype. 

Combined use of excellent oral hygiene practices like 

• Teeth brushing
• Flossing and 
• Regular dental cleanings by skilled dental hygienists 

together with the following yoga will pave the way for healthy teeth and gums.

REFERENCE

• Sudhanshu A, Sharma U, Vadiraja HS, Rana RK, Singhal R. Impact of Yoga on Periodontal Disease and Stress Management. Int J Yoga. 2017;10(3):121-127. doi:10.4103/0973-6131.213468. 
• Singh, Kuldeep & Singh, Pooja & Oberoi, Gurpreet. (2017). Effect of yoga on promotion of oral health. International Journal of Dentistry Research. 2. 18-21. 10.31254/dentistry.2017.2106. 
• Ravishankar, Pavithra. (2018). Complimentary and Alternative therapy in dentistry -Yoga. 
• Kuldeep Singh, Pooja Singh, Gurpreet oberoi. Effect of yoga on dental care: Pranayama techniques or rhythmic breathing exercises on the oral hygiene and gingival bleeding. Int J Appl Dent Sci 2017;3(3):91-95.