Management of Denture Stomatitis with a Herbal Armamentarium

Abstract: Denture Stomatitis (DS) is a chronic atrophic candidiasis and is the most prevalent chronic inflammatory condition of the oral mucosa that serves as the foundation of dentures. The persistence of DS is determined by the Candida species, other microbes, the immune state of the host, and other factors. Patients who have other risk factors, such as inadequate oral hygiene, long-term denture usage, a diet rich in carbohydrates, and decreased salivary flow, are more prone to experience this. The application of conventional antifungals is not always successful in combating DS. The available literature related to the epidemiology and pathophysiology of denture stomatitis, the risk factors, and treatment options available for DS have been examined with special emphasis on phytoactive molecules using Pubmed and Google Scholar platforms. Moreover, the plant/phytoactive molecules (clove, cinnamon, curcumin, thyme, Aloe vera) molecule-derived products were also looked at for analyzing the market popularity of herbal products. Therefore, age old plant-based herbal molecules have been revisited by researchers in pursuit of developing an effective solution to DS, and clove, cinnamon, thyme, curcumin, and Aloe vera have been reviewed in the present article. An update on the herbal formulations in the form of ointment, mouthwash, toothpaste, etc., that are either in the market or in trials has also been presented in the article. A systematic and comprehensive review of the scientific literature related to the five aforementioned plant extracts and their active molecules has been presented here. The review gives a detailed insight into the pharmacological properties other than DS also. Moreover, the review also highlighted the gaps which need more strategic and scientific attention for the quick translation of information into therapy of clinical relevance.