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Review Article

Turmeric - Its Applications in Dentistry


Amita Sharma1,
Babita Ahlawat2, Abstract
Sonam Sharma3
1Professor
Turmeric is known to be one of the oldest spices that have been used for thousands of
& Head,
2Senior Resident,
years and is a major part of Ayurvedic medicine. Curcumin, which comprises 0.3-5.4% of
raw turmeric, is its best researched active constituent which is nontoxic and has a
Department of Dentistry,
variety of therapeutic applications including its usage in dentistry. The aim of this article
SHKM Government
is to explore various dental applications of turmeric as there is scarcity of information
Medical College, Mewat,
Haryana, India.
and research in this field.

3Senior Resident, Keywords: Turmeric, Curcumin, Curcuma longa, Dentistry.


Department of Pathology,
Vardhman Mahavir Introduction
Medical College &
Safdarjung Hospital, New Turmeric has been used traditionally in Asian cuisines for both its flavor and color. In
Delhi, India. the Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine, it has been predominantly used as an anti-
inflammatory agent and also for the treatment of jaundice, menstrual difficulties,
Correspondence to: Dr.
hematuria, hemorrhage, and colic. It is official in the Pharmacopoeia of China as well as
Sonam Sharma,
in other Asian countries such as Japan and Korea and its usage covers a wide range of
Department of Pathology,
health indications.1 It is acknowledged to be one of the oldest spices that have been
Vardhman Mahavir
used in western and southern parts of India for thousands of years and is a major part
Medical College &
of Ayurvedic medicine. That is why it is also affirmed that this spice belongs to India
Safdarjung Hospital, New
indigenously and is also referred to as ‘Indian saffron.’ Originating in India, turmeric had
Delhi, India.
reached China by 700 AD, East Africa by 800 AD and West Africa by 1200 AD, and also
E-mail Id: had begun to become popular all over the world. It is also known that the Arab traders
drsonamsharma@gmail. had carried with them turmeric to Europe in the 13th century. Marco Polo, while on his
com numerous legendary voyages to India via the Silk Route, was so mesmerized by turmeric
that he had stated it as a vegetable that possesses properties of saffron, but actually is
not saffron.2

Turmeric is popularly known as haldi in India. It is a rhizome of Curcuma longa, a


flavorful yellow orange spice. Its plant is 3 ft. in height and has lance-shaped leaves and
spikes of yellow flowers that grow in a fleshy rhizome or in underground stem. An
orange pulp contained inside the rhizome constitutes the source of turmeric medicinal
powder.3 Curcumin is the best researched active constituent which comprises 0.3-5.4%
of raw turmeric. It has been used widely in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries, as it is
nontoxic and has a variety of therapeutic properties including antioxidant, analgesic,
anti-inflammatory, antiseptic activity, and anticarcinogenic activity.4 About 40-85% of
an oral dose of curcumin passes through the gastrointestinal tract unchanged, with
most of the absorbed flavonoid being metabolized in the intestinal mucosa and liver.
Due to its low rate of absorption, curcumin is often formulated with bromelain for
increased absorption and enhanced anti-inflammatory effect.5,6
How to cite this article:
Sharma A, Ahlawat B, Turmeric is a nontoxic natural product and has diversified effects in several oral
Sharma S. Turmeric - Its diseases.
Applications in Dentistry.
J Adv Res Med 2016; 3(1): Dental Applications
27-30.

ISSN: 2349-7181
Dental Pain
Turmeric can be used in following ways to offer relief from dental problems:7

© ADR Journals 2016. All Rights Reserved.


Sharma A et al. J. Adv. Res. Med. 2016; 3(1)

 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

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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

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29 ISSN: 2349-7181
Sharma A et al. J. Adv. Res. Med. 2016; 3(1)

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12(4): 221-22. Date of Submission: 04th May 2016
12. Deepa DA, Anita B, Sreelatha KT. Comparative study
of the efficacy of curcumin and turmeric oil as Date of Acceptance: 09th May 2016

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