Yoga and periodontal health - A holistic view

The current lifestyle changes has made the human community more prone to a diverse psycho-somatic disorders. Periodontal inflammation is one such oral disease, which has a multiple etiologic factors. Though the primary cause of the disease is microbial, the other factors are local, psychological, systemic and environmental which can influence the pathogenesis of disease. The conventional oral health care system inclines towards the periodontal treatment procedures that involves prophylactic and surgical management. But yoga, the complementary and alternative medicine has a natural and drug free approach to general and oral health without risks and adverse effects. Yoga is also considered as a cost effective treatment modality in treating and preventing illness. Various forms of yoga are practiced - asana (postures), pranayama (rhythmic breathing) and dhyana (meditation). The benefits of yoga are categorised as physiological, psychological and biochemical. This paper discusses the effect of yoga on modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors of periodontal disease and how yoga can contribute in the disease prevention and progression. It also validates that yoga as a therapeutic field which needs more research in periodontal health.