Effective removal of plaque is essential for maintaining oral and periodontal health. Mechanical control of microbial plaques through self-care efforts is necessary to prevent plaque buildup, but this alone is insufficient. Chemical plaque control is a complementary treatment that can promote the removal of microbial plaque, prevent its accumulation, and reduce its reliance on mechanical oral care behaviour. Therefore, the use of chemical and mechanical plaque controls is recommended for optimal oral hygiene.
A variety of chemicals are used in toothpaste and mouthwashes, some of which have been shown to reduce plaque formation. With increasing awareness of indigenous peoples’ medical practices in different parts of the world, the use of “herbal” medicine has attracted interest. It is driving the growth of complementary and alternative therapies to promote healthcare.
Herbal ingredients used oral care products
The most common herbal ingredients found in oral care products (such as toothpaste and mouthwash) are sanguinarine, propolis, Azadirachta indica (neem), charcoal, cloves, etc. miswax. In rural areas of South Asian countries, natural products such as neem twigs and charcoal powder have been an essential part of routine oral hygiene practice for centuries. Many herbal or plant extracts have been promoted to have anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, analgesic, antibacterial, antiviral, anticancer, and antioxidant activity through in vitro, in vivo, and animal studies.
Based on these observations, various manufacturers and multinational companies of oral care products have incorporated herbal ingredients into their products. Manufacturers of these products use different herbal ingredients that claim to mimic the benefits of traditional toothpaste, such as their ability to fight plaque, refresh your breath and prevent periodontal disease. But a dental clinic will do a professional clean with fluoride, which is very effective and safe.
Comparing herbal products to reduce plaque or periodontitis with traditional oral care products was evaluated in clinical trials. Despite the large number of tests conducted, the results are inconsistent and inconclusive. Some of these products have been approved by dentist associations in several countries. Reviews of the existing literature are primarily narrative or based on a single herbal ingredient (such as aloevera) found in mouthwash or toothpaste.
A single, comprehensive system that integrates current evidence to assess its effectiveness in reducing plaque and periodontitis by using herbal oral care products such as herbal toothpaste (HTP) and herbal mouthwash (HMR).
Herbal toothpaste appears to be as effective as non-herbal toothpaste, but it is not superior to fluoride toothpaste. Herbal mouthwash was found to be no better than chlorhexidine mouthwash. The quality of the evidence appears to be low / very low and is recommended as an alternative to traditional commercial oral hygiene products. The dentist can use getting the herbal message out via social media marketing & SEO
During the three study periods, increased plaque and gingival inflammation were observed in all three products. However, although chlorhexidine showed a significant reduction in both parameters compared to toothpaste, there was no significant difference between herbal toothpaste and fluoride toothpaste. However, if there is a demand for natural products, herbal / baking soda paste can be a valuable alternative..
