Dental & Oral Health

Introduction: Slow paced breathing (SPB) for some minutes has relevant effects on high blood pressure it improves heart performance, relaxes and reduces anxiety. To get the right rhythm devices like Respirate®, Decelerbreather®, Atemtakter® or some apps (e.g. Breathe) are used. Clinical relevant effects are shown already after 3 minutes, two times a day. 3 minutes, two times a day? - The time we use for tooth brushing. So why not get double efficacy? A hydrodynamic sonic toothbrush (HST) can provide acoustic information. The Edel White HST includes a Yoga-Modus: It proposes a rhythm from the Pranayama tradition: After 4 seconds breathing in, the air is hold for 4 seconds followed by 8 seconds expiration.

 

Method: In a controlled randomized trial of cross over design with 20 participants and the effect of this “Yoga-Modus” was compared to standard HST, HST combined with an external breath pacer device in the other hand providing the usual SPB (4 seconds inspiration, 6 seconds expiration) and a combination with a body-oriented technique practiced while brushing. Blood pressure was measured with a wrist monitor before and after brushing.

 

Results: There was a significant reduction of blood pressure observed for standard HST and the Yoga-Modus. But not everybody took profit from the hemodynamic point of view from the standard HST only 10 out of 20 reduced their blood pressure while brushing the teeth. Further 8 participants could profit from the Yoga-Modus. Introducing a respiration regime in a hydrodynamic sonic toothbrush has a helpful physiological impact on blood pressure regulation.