PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Shaikh, Sameer
AU  - Kumar, S. Manoj
TI  - Beneficial effects of specific natural substances on oral health
AID  - 10.15537/smj.2017.12.20516
DP  - 2017 Dec 01
TA  - Saudi Medical Journal
PG  - 1181--1189
VI  - 38
IP  - 12
4099  - http://smj.org.sa/content/38/12/1181.short
4100  - http://smj.org.sa/content/38/12/1181.full
SO  - Saudi Med J2017 Dec 01; 38
AB  - Substances that are consumed daily or occasionally may influence an individual’s oral health. Some substances, such as alcohol, tobacco, and areca nut, adversely affect the oral region. However, some other substances, such as honey and green tea, which have antimicrobial properties, and berries, which have anticarcinogenic potential, exhibit beneficial effects on oral health. The effectiveness of synthetic drugs in maintaining oral health cannot be ignored; however, the benefits of synthetic drugs are associated with adverse effects and high costs. By contrast, the medicinal use of natural substances is associated with safety, affordability, and long-term benefits. In this paper, we review various natural substances that are potentially beneficial to oral health.