Effect of Yoga on Periodontal Health – A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Yoga is a holistic and ancient practice that traces its origins back about 3000 years and enables us to be more productive by activating all of the body's functions. The name yoga itself means union, intertwining of body, brain, and soul. Yoga can prevent periodontal diseases. This may sound extraneous, but it is a scientifically proven truth; yoga will prevent not only periodontal disease but also many other systemic diseases. A search was done to find the articles that have been published on various databases Medline/PubMed, Google Scholar, LILACS, Cochrane, OpenGrey, and USC Upstate Library. We included only original research studies which clearly explain the influence of yoga on periodontitis with specified result. Meta-analysis was done of the clinical periodontal parameters used for observation of the periodontal health in the selected studies. Five studies were selected after analyzing various factors, and coincidentally, all the selected studies were from various regions of India. Forest plots were made of the studies selected. We conclude very clearly from the analysis done that yoga, an ancient practice, has a favorable impact on human body in stress control, henceforth maintaining the periodontal health.