January 15, 2025
Dental caries and periodontal diseases are identified as the most important among oral health problems globally. Oral diseases adversely affect the general health too. Quality of life and the working capacity of an individual are also affected. The antibacterial agents that are currently used for treatment of oral health problems are reported to cause several side effects such as diarrhea, vomiting, etc., Increasing bacterial resistance to the drugs is also a major concern. Because of the adverse effects, increasing bacterial resistance, and high cost associated with the standard therapeutic procedure, there is a need to explore new therapeutic agents and conduct further clinical research on traditional medicines obtained from various plant sources.
Approximately 3000 Essential oils are known till now. Essential oils are one of the plant extracts that have been used for treatment of various medical and dental problems since ancient times. These are secondary metabolites produced by various medicinal plants and possess antibacterial, antifungal, and antioxidant properties.
A review article reported that essential oils (lavender, eucalyptus, peppermint, tea tree, lemon, clove, and cinnamon) are promising solutions for dental health.