Oral health loss is one of the major problems existing all over the
world and is one of the top causes of death when unmanaged. The oral
cavity is home to numerous pathogenic microorganisms, some of which are
responsible for the progression and development of various systemic
diseases such as cancer, diabetes and myocardial infarction. Worldwide,
60-90% of school children and nearly 100% of adults have dental
cavities, often leading to pain and discomfort. There are implications
for the global economy as well, due to the continuous burden of
investing resources to maintain oral hygiene. Not surprisingly,
developing countries are disproportionally affected. There is thus an
urgent need to develop economical solutions for the treatment of oral
diseases. The trend of exploring plants or plant-derived compounds for
the prevention and cure of death-causing diseases is on the rise. The
use of traditional medicine for oral diseases is an ancient practice in
which medicinal herbs play a major role. Medicinal plants have minimal
side effects and no denigrating properties. Accordingly the use of
medicinal plants to curtail oral pathogens has been reported by a number
of studies.
The present book updates the issues related to oral health, oral
diseases and the role of medicinal plants in overcoming orally-derived
health problems. We also highlight the knowledge gaps in oral health
related problems with medicinal plants as one of the solutions. Our
ultimate goal is to encourage future research and application of
medicinal plants for economical and efficient treatment of oral
diseases.
