Traditional Medicinal Plants: Use in Oral hygiene

Oral hygiene is an integral part of health of a person and when neglected it results in various oral disorders.Due to high emergence of oral infections, the fast developing resistance by bacteria to antibiotics, the adverse effects of the chemical based remedies currently used in dentistry and financial considerations there is a need for alternative prevention and treatment options that are safe, economical and effective. Oral infections have been linked to bacterial species specially the mutans group. Unhealthy diet pattern and lack of oral hygiene promote the growth of these bacterias. A number of methods are used to treat oral infections but it is important to look for the role that plants play in maintenance of oral hygiene since many of them have medicinal properties. There is a long history of the use of plants to improve dental health and promote oral hygiene.When compared to chemical based remedies plants always keep an upper hand. In many Indian and African homes even today teeth are cleaned using stems and barks of certain plants. Natural tooth brush sticks could be used by majority of people who cannot afford the western toothbrush and toothpaste. Therefore due to adverse effects of chemical based remedies and high cost western toothpaste the search for the alternative products still continues and the phytochemicals isolated from the plants proves to be a good alternatives. The present review is an attempt to create an interest among people regarding the potential of natural plantsin treating the infections and disorders of oral cavity.