Introduction: Herbal products are increasingly being used for their potential to promote oral health. Phytochemicals can act as scavengers of reactive or toxic chemicals, selective growth factors for beneficial oral bacteria, fermentation substrates for beneficial oral bacteria, and selective inhibitors of harmful oral microflora. Plant-derived secondary metabolites encompass a variety of natural products, including alkaloids, polyphenols (including flavonoids and tannins), terpenes, terpenoids, steroids, saponins, quinones, coumarins, glycosides, and carotenoids.
Objectives: This review explores medicinal plant-based products for preventing and treating oral diseases, offering updated insights into the scientific basis for using herbs as active ingredients in oral health care. Hence, we focused on: (1) phenolic compounds, the most abundant and common phytochemicals and (2) terpenes and terpenoids, the most diverse and widely distributed group in the plant kingdom.
Methods: Several databases were queried to acquire peer-reviewed studies focusing on the major phytochemical compositions - phenolic compounds, terpenes, and terpenoids - and their oral health benefits.
Results: The review lists numerous medicinal herbs in various forms and applications for treating dental caries, gingivitis, and periodontitis.
Conclusion: This review explores the evidence supporting the oral health-promoting effects of specific constituents in herbs with the potential for incorporation into pharmaceutical formulations.
Keywords: antimicrobial; bioactive compounds; dental caries; gingivitis; periodontitis.
© 2025 the author(s), published by De Gruyter.