Abstract

USE OF SPICES IN TREATMENT OF DENTAL INFECTIONS

Kirti Dahigaonkar*, Chetna Sanjay Yelpure, Nagma Farook Syed and Farha Naaz Abdul Wajid

Abstract

A dental infection or tooth infection is the infection that forms inside the teeth or gums. Bacteria exist in plaque, a by- product of food, saliva, and bacteria in the mouth, which sticks to the teeth and damages them and the gums, if infection continues the enamel is weakened and destroyed, forming a cavity. Pathogens that cause primary infections are Provotella, Fusobacterium, Treponema, Enterococcus faecalis, Streptococcus mutants Candidia albicans. Antibiotics have been used for the treatment of dental infection, but because of increased resistance of bacteria to antibiotics, spices have been used. This review aims at the potential use of Syzygium aromaticum (clove), Eletteria cardamom (cardamom), Piper nigrum( black pepper), Cinnamomum vernum ( cinnamon), Curcuma longa (turmeric), Zingiber officinale (ginger), Myristica fragrans(nutmeg), Trigonella foenum graecum (fenugreek), Amomum subulatum (black cardamom), Citrus limon (lemon), sesame and alum as dental remedies.

Keywords: Dental infection, pathogens, spices and antimicrobial activity.