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ISSN: 2349-7181
Dental Pain
Turmeric can be used in following ways to offer relief from dental problems:7
Rinsing the mouth with turmeric water (boil 5 g of curcumin group showed a significant reduction in
turmeric powder, two cloves, and two dried leaves benzoyl peroxide (100%) and redness (96%) when
of guava in 200 g water) gives instant relief. compared with the chlorhexidine group and the saline
Massaging the aching teeth with roasted, ground group on day 5. However, the difference between
turmeric eliminates pain and swelling. groups was not significant at next recall visits mean PPD
Applying the powder of burnt turmeric pieces and reduction was significantly greater for the curcumin
bishop’s weed seed on teeth and cleaning them group than all other groups on all post-treatment days.
makes gums and teeth strong. Thus, 1% curcumin solution can cause better resolution
Applying a paste made from 1 tsp. of turmeric with of inflammatory signs than chlorhexidine and saline
½ tsp. of salt and ½ tsp. of mustard oil provides irrigation as a subgingival irrigant.10
relief from gingivitis and periodontitis. Rub the
teeth and gums with this paste twice daily. Mouthwash
Dental Plaque Detection System In a study by Waghmare et al. about 100 subjects were
randomly selected. Both gingival index and plaque index
Caries is thought to be an infectious disease caused by were recorded at 0, 14, and 21 days. It was concluded
microbes present in dental plaque, and it is known that that chlorhexidine gluconate as well as turmeric
the removal of dental plaque is highly important for the mouthwash can be effectively used as an adjunct to
health of oral cavity. However, dental plaques are not mechanical plaque control methods in prevention of
easy to identify by naked eye. Hence, plaques are plaque and gingivitis. Turmeric mouthwash prepared by
generally stained with dental-plaque detection system dissolving 10 mg of curcumin extract in 100 mL of
that includes a dental-plaque staining agent, which distilled water and 0.005% of flavoring agent
contains turmeric extracts and curcumin; and a light- peppermint oil with pH adjusted to 4 is found to be as
emitting apparatus, which gives out light having a effective as most widely used chlorhexidine mouthwash,
wavelength within a range of 250-500 nm to an object though, chlorhexidine gluconate has been found to be
in the oral cavity where the dental-plaque staining agent more effective when antiplaque property was
is attached.4,8 considered. The effect of turmeric observed may be
because of its anti-inflammatory action. Reduction in
Pit and Fissure Sealant total microbial count was observed in both the groups.11
It has been found that tinted pit and fissure sealant is Precancerous Lesions
useful for applying to tooth surfaces for the prevention
or reduction of dental caries. This sealant can be Its role in the treatment of various precancerous
produced from a composition comprising a conditions like oral submucous fibrosis, leukoplakia, and
polymerizable resin system containing acrylic monomer lichen planus has also been studied. Turmeric extract
and at least one colorant selected from the group and turmeric oil have demonstrated co-preventive
consisting of Annatto extract, turmeric extract, and β- activity in in vitro and in vivo animal experiments. The
Apo-8.-Carotenal.9 local symptoms of burning sensation and pain were
reduced and partial reversal of opening of the mouth
Subgingival Irrigation was also observed.12
In a study conducted by Suhag et al., periodontal sites Recurrent Apthous Stomatitis (RAS)
were treated on day 0 (baseline) by a single episode of
scaling and root planning. Subsequently, selected sites RAS is an inflammatory condition of unknown etiology
were irrigated (triple-irrigation regimen) with either affecting the oral mucosa. Approximately 20% of the
saline (0.9%), chlorhexidine (0.2%), curcumin (1%), or population suffers from RAS some time in their lives.
served as non-irrigated control sites on day 0 (baseline) The disease mainly involves non-keratinized mucosal
immediately following instrumentation. Triple-irrigation surfaces and is characterized by single or multiple
regimen was repeated for the next five consecutive days painful ulcers with periodic recurrence and healing. The
and on days 15 and 21 clinical parameters recorded appearance of ulcers is preceded by a prodrome of
were probing pocket depth (PPD), bleeding on probing, localized burning or pain which lasts for around 24-48
and redness for 200 sites in 20 patients with chronic hr. The peak of onset is between 10 and 19 years and
periodontitis. The results indicated that the irrigated may continue throughout life. Reports have shown that
sites had significant improvement in all parameters as in patients who used conventional antiseptic gel, the
compared with the non-irrigated sites on day 2-5. The lesion healed only after the periods of time as in
ISSN: 2349-7181 28
J. Adv. Res. Med. 2016; 3(1) Sharma A et al.
previous attacks. They experienced no early reduction in therapeutic effect on surgical wound healing,
pain or frequency of recurrence. The patients who used particularly improvement of periodontal treatment
the curcumin oil reported that ulcers started healing consequences after surgery.
earlier than in previous attacks; there was also early
reduction in pain. A follow-up for one-year has shown Antioxidant Property
no recurrence in these patients.12
Oxidative damage to soft oral tissues may result from
Influence on Human Gingival Fibroblasts exposure to the chemicals or biochemicals found in
teeth-whitening products, dental restorations, tobacco
Several studies have also revealed apoptosis of human and alcohol. Antioxidants are the first line of defense
primary gingival fibroblast (hPGF) cells at lower doses against free radical damage and are critical for
like 1, 10, and 25 µM of curcumin but at higher doses maintaining optimum health and wellbeing. The need
like 50, 60, 75, and 100 µM, statically significant high for antioxidants becomes even more critical with
apoptosis was noted. They have also found that the increased exposure to free radicals generated by
effect of curcumin treated normal human fibroblasts pollution, cigarette smoke, drugs, illness, stress and
and microvascular endothelial cells (MVED) using MTT exercise. Antioxidant supplementation is an excellent
assay and observed that lower doses of curcumin way of improving free protection.16 San Miguel et al.17
stimulated the proliferation of normal human investigated specific polyphenols and turmeric
fibroblasts and hMVED, whereas higher doses inhibited derivative antioxidants in combinations that
it.10 According to other authors curcumin-treated hPGF counteracted the effects of stressors such as hydrogen
cells exhibited maximum and significant apoptosis at 75 peroxide, ethanol, and nicotine by decreasing total
µM and showed decrease in cell population and reactive oxygen species and increasing cell viability and
shrinkage of cell size and morphologic alterations in DNA synthesis.
basal cell carcinoma cells after treatment with 50 nM
curcumin and found cell shrinkage disappearance of Safety Facets
microvilli and appearance of membrane blebbing.13
Turmeric is known to offer many health benefits, cost-
Local Drug Delivery System effective and has been considered to be
pharmacologically safe. Although human consumption
In a study conducted by Behal et al., 30 subjects with of curcumin as a dietary spice ranges up to 100 mg/day,
chronic localized or generalized periodontitis with it has been indicated that humans can tolerate a dose of
pocket depth of 57 mm were enrolled in a split-mouth curcumin up to 12 gm/day, without any toxic side
study design. Control sites received scaling and root effects.18,19
planning (SRP) alone, while experimental sites received
SRP plus 2% whole turmeric gel. Both groups Conclusion
demonstrated statistically significant reduction in
plaque index, gingival index, sulcus bleeding index, Turmeric is one of the most treasurable and potent
probing pocket depth, and gain in relative attachment plant on earth and is being used as a natural wonder
loss. There was a significant reduction in the trypsin-like traditionally in India. Turmeric has many roles to offer in
enzyme activity of “red complex” microorganisms. dentistry. However, there is scarcity of information and
Greater reduction was observed in all parameters in the research in this field. Therefore, further research is
experimental group in comparison to those in the required as turmeric appears to hold a promising future
control group. Thus, the local drug delivery system in dentistry.
containing 2% whole turmeric gel can be used as an
adjunct to scaling and root planning.14 Conflict of Interest: None
Habiboallah et al.15 performed a study to compare the 1. Labban L. Medicinal and pharmacological properties
effects of Curcuma longa ghee formulation and of turmeric (Curcuma longa): A review. Int J Pharm
hyaluronic acid on gingival wound-healing following Biomed Sci 2014; 5(1): 17-23.
surgery in beagle dogs. A significant difference in the 2. Krup V, Prakash LH, Harini A. Pharmacological
inflammatory and repair parameters of the healing activities of turmeric (Curcuma longa linn): A
process as regards to cases treated with Curcuma longa Review. J Homeop Ayurv Med 2013; 2: 133.
was observed. The results suggested a positive potential
29 ISSN: 2349-7181
Sharma A et al. J. Adv. Res. Med. 2016; 3(1)
ISSN: 2349-7181 30