Phytodentistry: A nature’s gift to dentist!!!!

Oral cavity harbours more than 700 species of micro-organisms. Imbalance in acidogenic and aciduric bacterial causes initiation of Dental caries whereas anaerobic bacteria lead to periodontal disease. Treatment of these diseases use of various chemicals which may have unpleasant taste, allergic reaction or toxicity even can cause financial burden. To overcome this, alternative therapeutical agents which are safer to oral tissues as well as economical.  Plants can be better alternative and they are used as Medicine since ages. Ayurveda and Chinese traditional medicine has mentioned the various medicinal properties of these plants. The use of plants / their products can be dated through old eras like use of neem bark or miswak for cleaning the teeth, use of clove oil for dental pain relief. In Ayurveda, methods like Dant Dhavani, Jivha Lekhana, Gandusha and Tissue regeneration therapies are recommended for oral health and involves use of plant or plant extract. Each Plant is the power house of the various chemicals known as phytochemicals which have numerous medicinal actions. Application of these phytochemicals in the dental science is the Phytodentistry. Phytodentistry can be expounded as the use of plants and their extract for the treatment or prevention of various dental diseases