A search for new alternatives in the treatment of oral diseases

Thirty medicinal plants, nine essential oils and twelve antibiotics were used in this study. The aim of this investigation was to determine whether viable bacteria are present within the tissue of oral squamous cell carcinoma and evaluate the antimicrobial effect of some medicinal plant methanolic extracts on a bacterium isolated from cancer and pre cancer patient¿s dental plaque. The reasoning being that if beneficial properties of medicinal plants are discovered, their inherent potentials could be amalgamated with those of other tooth cleaning formulae for maximum effectiveness.