There are numerous times when we get in contact with some unprotected ways that increase the chances of oral issues. Of course, brushing and flossing, dental insurance, and following good oral hygiene are crucial. But getting a habit of practising yoga can have an immense impact on your oral health through yoga asana (oral).
What is Oral Yoga Asana?
Oral yoga asanas’ are the ancient renowned positions practised worldwide to improve oral health. Various yoga positions are there that people do during their yogic sessions, helping them produce saliva and reducing inflammation and other gum diseases.
“Oral Yoga Asana” is not a commonly recognized term in the field of yoga. It seems to be a term that has emerged recently but is not widely known or practiced. It is possible that someone may have coined this term to refer to specific exercises or practices that focus on improving oral health or facial muscles through yoga-like movements.
However, it’s important to note that oral health primarily involves dental care, oral hygiene practices, and regular visits to a dentist. While yoga can have indirect benefits for oral health, such as reducing stress and promoting overall well-being, there isn’t a specific branch or set of asanas exclusively dedicated to oral health.
If you have specific concerns about your oral health or would like to explore exercises that target facial muscles, it is advisable to consult with a dental professional or a qualified yoga instructor who can provide guidance and personalized recommendations based on your needs.
The postures made during yoga asana for healthy teeth are mostly related to saliva production. It is one of the crucial watery liquid produced by glands to help keep your mouth free of bacteria and prevents xerostomia.
The Role of Yoga in Saliva Production
Poor postures expose you to spine and neck but also teeth issues. When you hunch or slouch, the moment your jaws come forward. Due to this, your teeth’ alignment disturbs you, and the skull moves back to compress the spine. The moment increases the stress surrounding muscles, joints, and bones and is left untreated. It creates pain and inflammation in joints and muscles when your mouth opens and closes.
That is one of the scenarios. But saliva plays a crucial role in letting you not get exposed to gum disease. Let’s look at the example of a yoga asana for healthy teeth.
Yoga and Saliva
Body postures are crucial, but saliva plays a vital role in keeping the glands active and releasing them to perform omnifarious tasks. Saliva is the key ingredient which helps secret the enzyme responsible for breaking food and makes it easier to swallow. Let’s look at some of the reasons that can expose you to salivary secretion.
Reasons for Saliva Secretion
- Increase in salivary secretion: The increase in the release of saliva gives space to enzymes to release and kill bacteria. An increase in enzyme count increases the chances of getting less exposed to gum issues, even sensitivity.
- Regular breathing: Following a proper breathing pattern prevents your mouth and throat from drying and helps you be safe from plaque buildup, tooth decay, and gum disease.
Meditation and yoga are non-pharmacological methods of treatment. Yogic breathing works on various modus operandi and releases salivary proteins in the mouth. The parasympathetic arm is responsible for the secretion of saliva. There are several recognised ways by which one can increase salvation with several pharmacological methods.
Before we walk forward to the on-the-counter supplements or drugs, it is adequate to try a few poses of yoga for teeth.
Yoga Asanas for Healthy Teeth
Yoga can be beneficial for overall health, including oral health. While yoga alone cannot cure dental problems, it can help promote good oral hygiene, reduce stress levels, and improve circulation, which can indirectly contribute to healthier teeth and gums. Here are a few yoga asanas (poses) that may be helpful for promoting oral health:
- Simhasana (Lion Pose): This pose stimulates the muscles of the face and helps improve blood circulation in the facial area, including the mouth. It may help relieve tension and improve oral health.
- Halasana (Plow Pose): Halasana helps improve blood circulation in the head and neck area. It may help stimulate the thyroid gland, which plays a role in overall oral health.
- Matsyasana (Fish Pose): This pose helps stretch the neck, throat, and facial muscles. It may help relieve tension and improve blood circulation in the oral cavity.
- Gomukhasana (Cow Face Pose): Gomukhasana helps stretch the muscles around the neck and shoulders. It may help relieve tension and improve blood flow to the facial area.
- Viparita Karani (Legs-Up-The-Wall Pose): This gentle inversion pose helps improve blood circulation to the head and face. It may help reduce stress and promote overall relaxation, which can indirectly benefit oral health.
Remember that these asanas should be practiced under the guidance of a qualified yoga instructor. Additionally, maintaining a good oral hygiene routine, including regular brushing, flossing, and dental check-ups, is essential for optimal dental health.
Cat-Cow Pose
It is among the easy poses you can position to improve your oral health. It is known to be the best yoga asana for healthy teeth.
During the pose, you flex your spine from a round to an arch position. You have to begin by inhaling while you look up at the sky and exhale while you look down.
Instructions:
- Start on your hands and knees. Place the wrist directly under your shoulder and keep your arms straight forming an angle of 90 degrees to the ground.
- To begin, form a cow pose. Inhale and drop your belly towards the mat. Lift your chin and trunk and look at the sky.
- Broaden your shoulder blades and keep them away from the ears.
- Now, move forward to the cat pose and exhale. Draw your belly towards your spine and arc your spine towards the sky.
- Release your head and bend it towards the floor. Keep your chin and trunk relaxed.
- And inhale back to have the cow pose. And repeat the process 5-20 times.
Eye of the Needle Pose
This yoga for teeth is really effective but has a secret advantage in keeping your neck healthy.
Instructions:
- Lie on your back and touch the sole of your feet to the floor
- Pull your knees to your chest.
- Cross the left ankle over the body and rest on the right thigh.
- Relax the left knee on the torso.
- Lift your right foot and stretch your left hand through the leg to meet at the right thigh.
- Now clasp the hands in front of your right shin.
- Take both hands and pull the right knee towards your chest and exhale.
- Keep both feet flexed and lower back to touch the mat.
- Deep breath and relax the left knee to open the hip and repeat with the other side.
Oral yoga asanas, also known as facial yoga or facial exercises, are a set of physical exercises that target the muscles and tissues in and around the mouth, jaw, and face. These exercises aim to strengthen and tone these muscles, which can help improve the overall health and appearance of the face and mouth.
The role of oral yoga asanas is to promote better blood flow and circulation to the muscles and tissues in the face and mouth. This increased blood flow can help to deliver more oxygen and nutrients to these areas, which can improve their overall health and function.
Instructions for practicing oral yoga asanas may vary depending on the specific exercises being performed, but some common instructions may include:
- Sit or stand in a comfortable position with your spine straight and your shoulders relaxed.
- Take a few deep breaths to relax your body and mind.
- Begin by stretching your mouth and lips as wide as possible, then hold for a few seconds before relaxing.
- Repeat this stretch several times, gradually increasing the duration of the hold each time.
- Next, purse your lips together tightly, then release and relax.
- Repeat this exercise several times, gradually increasing the duration of the hold each time.
- Move your jaw from side to side, keeping your lips closed and your teeth slightly apart.
- Repeat this exercise several times, gradually increasing the duration of the movement each time.
- Finally, massage your cheeks and jaw with your fingertips, using a circular motion to help release tension and promote relaxation.
The reason for practicing oral yoga asanas for healthy teeth is that these exercises can help to strengthen the muscles and tissues that support the teeth and gums. By improving blood flow and circulation to these areas, oral yoga asanas can also help to prevent gum disease and other dental problems.
In addition, practicing oral yoga asanas can help to improve the overall appearance of the face and mouth by reducing wrinkles and sagging skin, promoting better muscle tone and definition, and improving overall facial symmetry.