Yoga as an Integrated Holistic Approach to Oral Health: A Review

OBJECTIVES: The association between various systemic diseases and periodontitis has been explored extensively. A sedentary lifestyle plays a significant role in systemic and periodontal disease progression. Therefore, lifestyle modification has been considered a component of therapeutic aspects for periodontal disease and systemic disease. This review focuses on how yoga may reduce chronic gingival inflammation by improving the body’s defense, which can act more efficiently on periodontal bacteria and help maintain healthy gingiva. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A literature search was performed in PubMed/MEDLINE CINAHL, Web of Science, and Google Scholar for all the published articles related to yoga and its systemic benefits and potential role in reducing periodontal breakdown, and the findings were summarized. RESULTS: The practice of yoga therapy has been proven to show several benefits, such as reduced stress levels, anxiety and depression, increased antioxidant levels, reduced insulin resistance, and improved respiratory function. It also helps to improve the immune system. CONCLUSION: Yoga can be used as a potential treatment modality adjunct to conventional periodontal therapy as it has been shown to have a potential benefit in controlling systemic risk factors.