This document discusses the use of herbal ingredients in oral care. It outlines several herbs that have traditionally been used to treat tooth and gum problems, including myrrh, propolis, pine resin, and echinacea. The document also discusses some advantages of herbal remedies such as reduced side effects and cost compared to conventional treatments. However, it also notes disadvantages like lack of regulation and potential interactions with medications. Several herbal toothpaste and mouthwash formulations are provided as examples using extracts from plants like neem, clove, and pilu that have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties beneficial for oral health.

1. USES OF HERBAL INGREDIENTS
IN ORAL CARE
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2. CONTENT
• Introduction
• Herbal cosmeceuticals
• Advantages of herbs
• Disadvantages of herbs
• Herbal extracts
• Herbal tooth preparations
• Herbs for tooth preparations
• Reference
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3. INTRODUCTION
• Herbs have been used for centuries to prevent and control disease.
• Herbal extracts are effective because they interact with specific chemical receptors within the body and are in a
pharmacodynamic sense, drugs themselves.
• The biggest challenge and problem is lack of information about the effect of herbs in oral tissues, mechanism
of effect, and side effect.
• Several popular conventional drugs on the market are derived from herbs, These include aspirin , digitalis, and
Sudafed.
• Herbs may be good alternatives to current treatments for oral health problems but it is clear that we need more
r e s e a r c h .
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4. HERBAL COSMECEUTICALS:
Cosmetics containing an active ingredient obtained from plant origin, some examples are given
below:
1. Goldenseal: Herbal antibiotic, Enhances immune
system
2. Bloodroot: Reduce plaque
3. Wheat grass: Draws toxins out of the gums
4. White oak bark: Strengthens the gums
5. Tea tree: Antiseptic, inhibits bacterial growth
6. Calendula: Heals inflamed mucous membranes
7. Stevia: Inhibits plaque growth
8. Eucalyptus: Anti-inflammatory
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5. ADVANTAGES OF HERBS:
 Reduced risk of side effects.
 Effectives with chronic conditions.
 Lower cost.
 Widespread availability.
 Safety.
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DISADVANTAGES OF HERBS:
 Lack of regulation.
 Patience needed.
 Inappropriate for many
conditions.
 Lack of dosage instructions.
 Poison risk associated with wild
herbs.
 Medication interactions.

6. HERBAL INGREDIENTS IN ORAL CARE:
• Herbal remedies have a long history of use for gum and tooth problems. In many traditional cultures, there are
no plastic-bristle brushes, rather, the use of herbal “chewing sticks” are common.
• In Traditional Medicine, the following herbs have a long history of use for prevention and in assisting the
body to heal itself in gum and tooth disorders.
• Myrrh--a resin from North Africa to Arabia, warming, astringent.
• Propolis--a bee product—stimulates production of new tissue, anti-viral, useful for mouth sores and ulcers.
• Pine resin (pitch)—use as “chewing gum” when firm.
• Usnea--a common lichen, stronger than penicillin against strep. and staph.
• Bloodroot--an eastern woodlands plant--strongly inhibits plaque and decay-causing bacteria.
• Plantain--a common world-wide “weed,” use it fresh for abscesses, inflammation.
• Krameria- contains 40% tannin, combine the powder with myrrh as a dentifrice for bleeding or spongy gum.
• Oak galls (oak apples)- contain up to 50% tannins, use powder as a dentifrice.
• Tormentil & sage - use as a gargle for chronic gum inflammation.
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7. • Echinacea- gargle or rinse with the diluted tincture, activates local immunity, induces healing.
• Baptisia- antiseptic, anti-bacterial.
• Essential oils (EOs) are distilled liquids extracted from flowers, leaves, bark, stems, roots, shrubs and
trees.
• The effectiveness of EOs lies in their exceptional ability to penetrate human tissue and provide
therapeutic benefits
• EOs contain varying numbers of tiny aromatic molecules that rapidly absorb into skin and travel
through the body via blood capillaries and the circulatory system
• When used in herbal dental care, EOs are absorbed deep into gum tissue where their potent
antibacterial properties provide valuable benefits in the treatment of gum disease.
1) Red thyme
2) Cinnamon bark
3) Eucalyptus
4) Lavender
5) Peppermint
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8. HERBAL EXTRACTS:
Echinacea-
• This herb is best known for helping the body to fight off microbial infections.
• Antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and an immuno modulator, reacts with and aids the immune
system.
• Studies have shown Echinacea to be effective in preventing infection, repairing damaged tissue
and regenerating connective tissue.
Gotu kola-
• Used as a medicine for its healing properties, it stimulate blood vessel growth in connective
tissue, stimulate wound healing, and act as a powerful anti-inflammatory.
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9. HERBAL TOOTH PREPARATIONS
To prevent and control of teeth disorders, which include Herbal Tooth paste, herbal tooth powder,
dentifrices and mouthwash.
DENTIFRICES:
The basic requirements of a dentifrices are-
1. To remove food debris, plaque and stain from teeth.
2. It should leave the mouth with a fresh, cooling and cleaning sensation.
3. It should be harmless, pleasant and convenient to use.
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TOOTH PASTE:
To remove adherent soiling matter from a hard surface with minimal damage.
MOUTH WASH:
Mouthwash or mouth rinse is a product use to enhance oral hygiene.

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HERBS FOR TOOTH PREPARATIONS:
Sr.n
o.
Botanical name Vernacular
name
Part used Used to treat
1 Acacia arabica Babul Bark Teeth disorders
2 Azadirachta
indica
Neem Leaf Toothache,
Antibacterial,
Dental carries
3 Syzygium
aromaticum
Clove Bud Toothache,
Antiseptic
4 Salvadora persica Pilu Twigs Anti microbial

11. EXAMPLE (Herbal Toothpaste):
DIVYA DANT KANTI TOOTH PASTE:
 Vajradanti Extract – 10 mg
 Pilu Extract – 10 mg
 Bakul Extract – 10 mg
 Babool Extract – 20 mg
 Akarkara Extract – 20 mg
 Majuphal Extract– 5 mg
 Kapur Extract (Cinnamomum Camphora)
 Vidang Extract – 10 mg
 Nimba Or Neem Extract – 10 mg
 Lavang Extract – 10 mg
 Base Material: Calcium carbonate Base
 Preservative: Sodium Benzoate
 Others: Fluoride Content
Medicinal Properties:
• Anti-inflammatory
• Refreshing
• Antibacterial
Therapeutic Indications:
• Toothache
• Gingivitis
• Bad Breath
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12. HIMALAYA HIORA MOUTHWASH:
Key Ingredients:
 Pilu
 Bibhitaka
 Nagavalli
 Gandhapura taila
 Ela
 Peppermint satva
 Yavani satva .
Uses:
Himalaya hiora mouthwash is
used for –
• Halitosis
• Gingivitis
• Microbial infection
• Dental plaque and other
conditions.
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13. REFERENCE:
• The herb book. New york: bantan book. Herbal medicine,
baeconsfield, england: baeconsfield publishers Ltd.
• Leung, A.Y. 1980. encyclopedia of natural ingredients. New
york: john wiley and sons.
• Wren, R.C. 1988. potter’s new Cyclopaedia of botanical drugs
and preparations.
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