Abstract
Oral diseases are major health problems with dental caries and periodontal diseases among the most important preventable global infectious diseases. Oral health influences the general quality of life and poor oral health is linked to chronic conditions and systemic diseases. The association between oral diseases and the oral microbiota is well established. Of the more than 750 species of bacteria that inhabit the oral cavity, a number are implicated in oral diseases. The development of dental caries involves acidogenic and aciduric Gram-positive bacteria (mutans streptococci, lactobacilli and actinomycetes). Periodontal diseases have been linked to anaerobic Gram-negative bacteria (Porphyromonas gingivalis, Actinobacillus, Prevotella and Fusobacterium). Given the incidence of oral disease, increased resistance by bacteria to antibiotics, adverse affects of some antibacterial agents currently used in dentistry and financial considerations in developing countries, there is a need for alternative prevention and treatment options that are safe, effective and economical. While several agents are commercially available, these chemicals can alter oral microbiota and have undesirable side-effects such as vomiting, diarrhea and tooth staining. Hence, the search for alternative products continues and natural phytochemicals isolated from plants used as traditional medicines are considered as good alternatives. In this review, plant extracts or phytochemicals that inhibit the growth of oral pathogens, reduce the development of biofilms and dental plaque, influence the adhesion of bacteria to surfaces and reduce the symptoms of oral diseases will be discussed further. Clinical studies that have investigated the safety and efficacy of such plant-derived medicines will also be described.
Highlights
Oral diseases continue to be a major health problem worldwide [1]
A number of studies have investigated the activity of plant extracts and products against specific oral pathogens, while others have focused on the ability of the products to inhibit the formation of dental biofilms by reducing the adhesion of microbial pathogens to the tooth surface, which is a primary event in the formation of dental plaque and the progression to tooth decay and periodontal diseases [24]
Assays that have been used to test the antimicrobial properties of medicinal plant extracts and natural products used to treat or prevent oral diseases involve assessing the capacity of the test material to inhibit the growth of typical oral pathogens, such as Streptococcus sp. and P. gingivalis
Summary
Dental caries and periodontal diseases are among the most important global oral health problems, conditions such as oral and pharyngeal cancers and oral tissue lesions are significant health concerns [2]. There is a considerable evidence linking poor oral health to chronic conditions, for example, there is a strong association between severe periodontal diseases and diabetes [1,2,3]. While there has been a marked improvement in oral health in most developed countries worldwide, populations of dentally disadvantaged individuals exist in these countries, often indigenous child populations and those people of low Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine socio-economic status, where oral health is deteriorating [6]. The search for alternative products continues and natural phytochemicals isolated from plants used in traditional medicine are considered as good alternatives to synthetic chemicals [19]
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