Abstract

SWEET BAY (LAURUS NOBILIS L.) ESSENTIAL OIL: A STUDY ON ITS APPLICATION IN DENTISTRY.

M. Vasundhara*, Sheetal R. Gujaran, Ashwini Jayaram and Priyanka R.

Abstract

Dental plaque is an oral biofilm that adheres to teeth, comprising of more than 700 species of bacteria and fungi. It is one of the etiological factor leading to oral related diseases namely gingivitis, periodontitis and dental caries. Therefore its treatment becomes a crucial factor in maintaining oral health. Use of plant essential oils in the treatment of dental plaque can be beneficial due to the antimicrobial and non-toxic properties making them ideal for their use in oral care products. Since ages, essential oils have been researched and there is evidence for their long term effects in controlling dental plaque. The present study aims to screen the efficacy of Laurus nobilis essential oil in treating dental plaque. The essential oil was tested against three dental pathogens –S.mutans, L.acidophilus and C.albicans. The results demonstrated that L.nobilis essential oil showed inhibition against the three dental pathogens and proves its efficacy to be used as an antimicrobial agent to control dental plaque.

Keywords: Dental plaque, essential oil, L.nobilis, disc diffusion.