When people care about preserving or accentuating their appearance, they’re often willing to put in extra effort to get the results they want. While some things we do to improve our smiles and health are obvious, others are indirect. For example, you may have been practicing yoga for years without knowing that it is paying back dividends for your health, oral and otherwise. Discover three unexpected activities that have a positive impact on your health and smile.
Stress is One of the Biggest Hazards to Your Health and Teeth
Did you know that excessive stress plays a major role in the development of a number of health issues, from gum disease to heart problems?
Dr. Christine Ally, a dentist in Little Silver, New Jersey explains the role stress plays on our health:
“There is no doubt that excessive stress can have a negative impact on oral health and the ability to sleep properly.”
A recent Gallup Poll shows that 79% of Americans feel stressed at some point throughout the day, but ultimately, it’s how we handle that stress that determines its effect on our health. Therefore, actively seeking and participating in activities that lower your stress also provides a significant benefit to your overall and oral health.
Yoga Practice Comes with Numerous Health Benefits
Rising to popularity over the past decade, yoga is so common that you’re likely to find at least one studio in most cities. The system of stretches, poses, and breathing methods can be traced back to ancient India, but it has powerful positive benefits in modern times. From building strength to greatly reducing stress with regular practice, joining a yoga class is one of the best things you can do for your health.
How Yoga Practice Can Improve Your Oral Health
As mentioned, stress is a catalyst behind many oral health diseases, ranging from periodontitis to bruxism. Studies prove that regular yoga training lowers stress levels, making it far less likely that you’ll develop stress-related health issues. Throw in benefits like improved posture and spine health, and it’s easy to see how a yoga routine is one of the best things you can do for your body, mind, and teeth.
A Challenging Workout Routine Works Wonders for Your Health
It may seem like making a commitment to go to the gym or engage in tough workouts multiple times per week would add more stress to your life, but the opposite is true. Exercising regularly keeps your heart strong and lowers your resting heart rate. If you dread running, lifting weights, or certain other workouts, there’s no need to worry – the Mayo Clinic confirms that “Virtually any form of exercise contributes to a lower stress level.”
Alternatives to the Traditional Gym Workout
If joining your local YMCA or 24-Hour Fitness isn’t your thing, consider these options for developing a reliable fitness routine that will lead to the results you want.
- Try a CrossFit class
- Join a local adult sports team
- Find a walking or jogging club
- Invest in a road bike and go cycling regularly
- Team up with a group that goes hiking in the outdoors
- Try a martial arts class to see if it’s a good fit
Transcendental Meditation is Popular and Effective
Introduced in the mid-1950s by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, transcendental meditation, or TM as it’s commonly called, has never been more popular. From Kristen Bell to Jewel, Clint Eastwood to Howard Stern, the number of successful people who regularly practice TM is remarkable. With proven benefits that include lower stress, increased creativity, and higher test scores among those who meditate, it’s clear that TM has the power to make a positive difference in your life.
A Simple Yet Effective Method
While a TM course can cost close to $1000, there are numerous resources online that can help you get started without the extra expense. It’s worth the attempt too because TM is extraordinarily simple – for about 15-20 minutes, you just sit comfortably while breathing deeply and repeating a simple mantra. While it’s ideal to hire a qualified TM instructor, you can gain many of the health advantages by following a reliable online source.
Who Should You Trust When Actual Problems Develop?
While the three methods mentioned above are excellent for managing stress and preventing problems to your health and smile, they won’t be able to cure you when serious problems actually develop. In that case, it’s ideal to find a specialist who deals with your specific issues. Here are examples of specialists you may need for devastating yet common dental problems:
Misalignment – Crooked Teeth
Even if you have the calmest demeanor and healthiest body, your teeth may still grow in crooked due to genetics or other factors. If this happens, finding a real expert is the only way to correct the problem. In Miami, Florida, Dr. Stephen Grussmark is a Diamond Plus provider for Invisalign treatment, meaning he’s highly experienced and will be able to answer any questions you may have about the treatment.
Sleep Apnea
While staying low-stress and fit will help stave off symptoms of sleep apnea, if you develop the disorder, visiting a doctor to have it diagnosed and treated is the best course of action. One dentist who specializes in the most effective treatments for sleep apnea is Dr. Jacques Doueck in Brooklyn, NY. He’ll administer a sleep test and will provide treatments to ensure that you can sleep peacefully through the night again.
Missing Teeth
As mentioned, decreasing stress is excellent for virtually every part of your body including your teeth. However, teeth can fall out for a multitude of reasons, many of which such as trauma are beyond your control. If you’re missing teeth and want to replace them with the highest quality restoration available, a specialist like Dr. Hart at Sweet Hart Dental can give you the restoration you need.
Managing Stress is Vital to a Healthy Body and Mind
Whether you choose to devote your time to yoga classes, hire a personal trainer, or take a course in transcendental meditation, there are numerous ways to decrease the stress in your life. With so many health problems originating from stress, simply minimizing this threat to your health will play a major role in improving your health on every level. Best of luck finding the method of stress management that works best for you.