Your teeth could use some yoga.

No, there is no twisting your incisors into the shape of a pretzel, but yoga techniques could help lessen the risk of a common dental problem.

"So many people grind their teeth without realizing it," said Dr. William Kuttler, a Dubuque dentist.

Many people transfer their daily stress to their chewing muscles, damaging their teeth and creating pain.

When Kuttler began practicing dentistry in the mid-1970s, the vast majority of people with teeth-grinding injuries were men who lived on farms.

"They would be riding around on a tractor all day, with grit getting in their mouth and clenching their teeth," Kuttler said. "Now, the farmers are riding in air-conditioned cabs and the people coming in (with jaw problems) are Type-A business people."

Grinding the teeth damages the tooth as well as the jaw. It can lead to sleep disruption and other health problems.

"We're seeing an epidemic of that now," said Kuttler's wife, Sharon, a registered dental hygienist in the dental practice.

Sharon had a revelation one day while taking a yoga class with instructor

if you go "Relieve Stress for Dental Health" will be held 7-8:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 18, at Shalom Retreat Center, 1001 Davis St. The cost is $8. Call Shalom at 563-582-3592 by Tuesday, March 16, to register.

Deb May: "What I'm learning in yoga could really help people."

The Kuttlers and May will present a seminar this month on yoga techniques to help relieve dental stress.

May focuses her teaching on breathing, alignment and body awareness.

"A lot of the techniques I teach help people recognize the tension they hold in their body," May said.

The techniques also can help resolve that tension, lowering the risk of clenched and grinding teeth.

"It's potentially really positive," William Kuttler said.