Honey: A Natural Remedy in Dental and Oral Diseases

Abstract

Honey is a natural medicine that has anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcer and antioxidant properties. The medicinal value of honey is attributed to several components including hygroscopic sugars, and enzymes like diastase, invertase, catalase and glucose oxidase. Glucose oxidase catalyzes the oxidation of glucose to hydrogen peroxide and gluconolactone. The hydrogen peroxide is further converted to water and oxygen by enzyme catalase. The low moisture content and high viscosity of honey provide protective barrier against bacterial infection. Honey not only has an excellent nutritional value but it is also used as an ointment or a drug as a complementary and alternative medicine called "Apitherapy". This mini review presents the medicinal value of honey in the treatment of dental and oral diseases/conditions such as oral ulcer, oral candidiasis, stomatitis, dental carries, plaque, gingivitis, periodontal disease and orthodontic treatment, and tooth extraction.