Impact of the Current Scenario and Future Perspectives for the Management of Oral Diseases: Remarkable Contribution of Herbs in Dentistry

Abstract

Background: Herbs used in dentistry contain antimicrobial, antiseptic, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and antiviral properties that help in reducing irritation, infections, and pain in the oral cavity. The resistance to antibiotics and overcoming their untoward side effects promoted the usage of herbals in dentistry. In addition, due to the affordability issues of allopathic medicines in rural areas, the dependency of poor people on herbal medicines has gained significant popularity in the Indian subcontinent. Objective: Oral disorders would be a significant health setback for humankind due to their severity if they remained untreated. This review promotes the efforts made to overcome the side effects of allopathic medicines and provide cost-effective herbal treatment for oral care. Oral disorders cause various infections like tooth decay, dental caries, gingivitis, fungal, viral, bacterial infections, plaque formation, pemphigus vulgaris, pyorrhoea, mouth ulcers, and oral cancer fatal. The use of herbal extracts of Tulsi, neem, and turmeric as a natural healer and safest antimicrobial provides better dental care treatment. In addition, aromatic agents like tulsi, neem, mint, clove, ginger, and turmeric as dental products have increase palatability for patients who have lost their taste buds with growing age and diseases. Method: The literature search was conducted in academics, Google scholar, PubMed, WHO, and Sci.org using keywords dentistry, antimicrobials, herbs for dental management, experimental findings, bacterial strains, oral health, and hygiene. Results: The beneficial results from using various antimicrobials containing herbs are gaining popularity throughout the world. Subsequently, it further suggested that antimicrobials and, herbal extracts maintains oral hygiene, reduces bacterial lichens, biofilm adhesion and helps in the management of oral infections, improves health. Conclusion: Screening of newer antimicrobial formulations like dentifrices, gargles, throat paints, mouthwashes, and mouth sprays containing cost-effective herbals for promoting healthcare and plays a pivotal role in developing herbal industries for dental care.