Effectiveness of herbal oral care products in reducing dental plaque and gingivitis: an overview of systematic reviews
Authors
Vini Mehta
Department of Dental Research Cell, Dr. D Y Patil Dental College and Hospital, Dr. D Y Patil Vidyapeeth, Pune 411018, India
Ankita Mathur
Department of Dental Research Cell, Dr. D Y Patil Dental College and Hospital, Dr. D Y Patil Vidyapeeth, Pune 411018, India
Snehasish Tripathy
Department of Dental Research Cell, Dr. D Y Patil Dental College and Hospital, Dr. D Y Patil Vidyapeeth, Pune 411018, India
Rizwan SA
Scientist-D, ICMR-National Institute of Epidemiology, Chennai, India
Tanvi Sharma
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
Keywords:
dental plaque, gingivitis, herbal, oral health
Abstract
Introduction:
Numerous clinical trials and systematic reviews have investigated the effectiveness of both herbal and conventional oral care approaches to reducing plaque and gingivitis. However, their findings vary and are inconsistent. Thus, the objective of this umbrella review is to compile data from systematic reviews and provide an overview of the effects of herbal oral care products on tooth plaque and gingivitis.
Methods:
A comprehensive search of the literature was performed in 6 databases for systematic reviews with or without meta-analyses, published up to 30 May 2023, without any language restrictions. Only clinical trials comparing herbal oral care products (in the form of mouthrinse or toothpaste) against standard oral care products or placebo were considered.
Results:
Some herbal oral care products, particularly in the form of mouthrinses, have a similar level of positive effect on plaque and gingivitis reduction and, thus, can be used as an adjunct to traditional dentifrices. However, the shorter duration of trials (<4 weeks) and reported publication bias in the clinical trials mean that these findings must be interpreted with caution.
Conclusion:
To accurately determine the impact of various herbal extracts on periodontal health, well-designed, long-term, and controlled trials that adhere to standardized protocols must be carried out.
Keywords: dental plaque, gingivitis, herbal, oral health
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