The use of natural medicines for dental care is an ancient cross-cultural practice that persists in the majority of cultures today. Medicinal plants have been employed in dentistry since prehistoric times in different societies for both therapeutic and preventive oral health care. The various applications of phytomedicines for dental health and healing were explored through a survey of 91 medicinal plant shops in Miami, Florida, original research results from the Caribbean, and a review of published cross-cultural evidence. Anecdotal informant reports, case-study field data, clinical research trials, and biochemical laboratory tests all indicate that botanical medicines represent an historically effective and promising complementary approach to dental health maintenance, therapy, and support. Botanical remedies have proven effective in the treatment and management of a variety of oral disorders, partly due to the action of beneficial phytochemicals they contain. Contraindications and potentially negative side effects have also been recorded in the safety profiles for several of the medicinal plants.
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