Application of plant extracts in oral health

Plant bioactives have been extracted for multiple applications in improving human health. Oral health is primarily affected by the development of caries, which, as a chronic disease, can progress to tooth loss. Many efforts have been made to reduce the incidence of caries; in many countries, high rates of caries are still a reality. Herein, we explore various plant extracts with proven effects on the biofilm. Oral infections and accumulation of biofilm and calculus can also contribute to soft tissue inflammation, leading to periodontitis and gingivitis. Main plant extracts that modulate inflammation are reviewed. Oral cancer is another clinically important condition whose classic treatments (surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy) are very invasive and greatly reduce the quality of life of patients. Immunotherapy is used in certain cases alone or in combination with other treatments. All of this carries the possibility of development of a wide variety of side-effects, some of which can severely weaken patients as oral mucositis. This review addresses these main diseases of the oral cavity, describing each of them, as well as the plant extracts that have been studied for their anticancer, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties specifically applied to addressing the conditions.