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Uses of turmeric in dentistry: An update

Article in Indian Journal of Dental Research · January 2009

DOI: 10.4103/0970-9290.49065 · Source: PubMed

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T. P. Chaturvedi
Banaras Hindu University
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REVIEW ARTICLE

Uses of turmeric in dentistry: An update

TP Chaturvedi

Professor, Division of
Orthodontics and General
ABSTRACT
Dentistry, Faculty of Dental Turmeric has been used for thousands of years as a dye, a flavoring, and a medicinal herb.
Sciences, Institute of Medical
Sciences, 4GF Jodhpur Colony, In India, it has been used traditionally as a remedy for stomach and liver ailments, as well
Banaras Hindu University, as topically to heal sores. Ancient Indian medicine has touted turmeric as an herb with the
Varanasi 221005, Uttar Pradesh, ability to provide glow and luster to the skin as well as vigor and vitality to the entire body.
India
Since turmeric has antimicrobial, antioxidant, astringent, and other useful properties, it is quite
Received : 10-03-08
useful in Dentistry also. The objective of this article is to highlight various uses of turmeric in
Review completed : 08-08-08
Accepted : 09-08-08
the dental field along with its use in medical problems.
PubMed ID : 19336870
DOI: 10.4103/0970-9290.49065 Key words: Dental infections, herbal medicine, turmeric

Herbal medicines are drugs of plant origin used to treat traditional Chinese medicine, it is considered to be a bitter
diseases and to attain or maintain a condition of improved digestive and a carminative. It is used by Unani practitioners
health. Herbs with medicinal properties are a useful and to expel phlegm or kapha, opening out the blood vessels to
effective source of treatment for various diseases. Many improve blood circulation. It can be incorporated into foods,
drugs used in Western medical science (called allopathic including rice and bean dishes, to improve digestion and
medicine) have their origin in medicinal plants. reduce gas and bloating. It is a cholagogue, stimulating bile
production in the liver and encouraging the excretion of
Turmeric is a perennial plant with orange, oblong tubers 2 bile via the gallbladder. This improves the body’s ability to
or 3 inches in length and one inch in diameter, pointed or digest fats. Western cuisine does not use turmeric directly,
tapering at one end. When dried, it is made into a yellow but it forms part of several spice mixtures and sauces; it is
powder with a bitter, slightly acrid, yet sweet taste. It is also used to impart a bright yellow color to mustard paste.
similar to ginger.
THERAPEUTIC ACTIONS OF TURMERIC
India produces nearly the whole world’s turmeric crop and
consumes 80% of it. With its inherent qualities, Indian The active constituent of turmeric is known as curcumin. It
turmeric is considered to be the best in the world. The has been shown to have a wide range of therapeutic actions
fresh spice is much preferred to the dried spice in South of curcumin.
East Asia. The fresh rhizome is grated and added to curry
dishes; it is also used as a yellow curry paste in Thailand. 1. It protects against free radical damage because it is a
Due to Indian inßuence, turmeric has also made its way strong antioxidant.[1]
into Ethiopian cuisine. Besides ßavoring food, the most 2. It reduces inßammation by lowering histamine levels
common uses of turmeric are to purify the blood and remedy and possibly by increasing the production of natural
skin conditions. Many people are familiar with turmeric cortisone by the adrenal glands.[2]
as a traditional Middle-Eastern spice, but few know of its 3. It protects the liver from a number of toxic compounds.[3]
medicinal virtues. Turmeric, otherwise known as Circuma 4. It has been shown to prevent platelets from clumping
longa, is a member of the ginger family, Zingaberaceae. The together, which in turn improves circulation and may
Latin name is derived from the Persian word, “kirkum,” help protect against atherosclerosis.[4]
which means “saffron,” in reference to the rhizome’s vibrant 5. Laboratory tests have found that turmeric is
yellow-orange color. It is indigenous to southeast Asia, antimutagenic, as it potentially helps prevent new
but has long been used and cultivated throughout India. cancers that are caused by chemotherapy or radiation
Turmeric is highly valuable for the inßuence it exerts on used to treat existing cancers. It effectively inhibits
the digestive system and the liver. In both Ayurvedic and metastasis (uncontrolled spread) of melanoma (skin
Address for correspondence:
cancer) cells [5,6] and may be especially useful in
Dr. TP Chaturvedi, deactivating the carcinogens in cigarette smoke and
E-mail: tpchaturvedi@rediffmail.com chewing tobacco.
107 Indian J Dent Res, 20(1), 2009
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Turmeric in dentistry Chaturvedi

6. Curcumin inhibits HIV in test tubes, though human • Applying the powder of burnt turmeric pieces and bishop’s
trials are needed to determine if it has any usefulness weed seed on teeth and cleaning them makes the gums and
for treating humans with this condition.[7,8] teeth strong.
7. Curcumin is also useful for reducing inflammation • Applying a paste made from 1 tsp of turmeric with ½ tsp of
and symptoms such as pain and stiffness in the joints. salt and ½ tsp of mustard oil provides relief from gingivitis
Turmeric in the diet may prevent pain from arthritis, and periodontitis. Rub the teeth and gums with this paste
bursitis, and tendonitis.[9] twice daily.
8. A separate double-blind clinical trial found that
curcumin was superior to placebo or phenylbutazone Pit and fissure sealant
(a non steroidal anti-inßammatory drug [NSAID]) for It has been found that tinted pit and Þssure sealant is
alleviating post-surgical inßammation.[10] useful for applying to tooth surfaces for the prevention or
9. Turmeric in the diet increases the production of reduction of dental caries. This sealant can be produced
enzymes that digest fats and sugars and stop cholesterol from a composition comprising a polymerizable resin
from forming gallstones. Turmeric is helpful for people system containing acrylic monomer and at least one colorant
with indigestion. Results in people with stomach or selected from the group consisting of Annatto extract,
intestinal ulcers have not shown it to be superior to a turmeric extract, and β-Apo-8’-Carotenal.[21]
placebo and have demonstrated it to be less effective
than antacids.[11–13] Dental-plaque detection system
10. Preliminary research indicates a possible beneÞt of Caries or periodontal diseases are thought to be infectious
oral curcumin supplementation for chronic anterior diseases caused by bacteria present in dental plaques and
uveitis (inßammation of the iris and middle coat of the it is known that the removal of dental plaques is highly
eyeball).[14] important for the health of oral cavities. However, dental
11. Turmeric is exceedingly useful in the treatment of some plaques are not easy to identify by the naked eye and it
urinary disorders such as diabetes mellitus.[15] is difÞcult to conÞrm their attachment site and extent
12. Turmeric stimulates the secretion of bile, is anti- precisely. Accordingly, dental plaques are generally stained
inßammatory, anti-bacterial, eases stomach pain, and with dental-plaque staining agents, which contain dyes,
is an antioxidant. Turmeric in the diet increases the to reveal their locations in order to uncover the attached
production of enzymes that digest fats and sugars and dental plaques.
stops cholesterol from forming gallstones.[16]
13. When applied to the skin and exposed to sunlight, The dental-plaque detection system includes a dental-plaque
turmeric is strongly anti-bacterial. staining agent, which contains at least one selected from
14. It can be used for parasitic infections. the yellow pigment of beni-koji, turmeric extracts, and
15. Fresh juice from the rhizome or a paste prepared from curcumin; and a light-emitting apparatus, which outputs
turmeric or decoction is often used as a local application light having a wavelength within a range of 250 to 500
as well as internally in the treatment of leprosy, snake nm to an object in the oral cavity where the dental-plaque
bites, and vomiting associated with pregnancy.[17] staining agent is attached. A yellow pigment of beni-koji
16. In case of smallpox and chickenpox, turmeric is applied and turmeric are known as staining agents also used for
as a powder or as a paste to facilitate the process of other purposes.[22]
scabbing.[18,19]
17. Turmeric powder with alum powders are mixed in a SUMMARY
proportion of 1 to 20 and is blown into an ear that has
chronic discharge or otorrhoea. The beneÞts of turmeric include: analgesic, antibacterial,
anti-inßammatory, anti-tumor, anti-allergic, antioxidant,
DENTAL APPLICATION OF TURMERIC antiseptic, antispasmodic, appetizer, astringent,
cardiovascular, carminative, cholagogue, digestive, and
Dental problems diuretic. There are many uses of turmeric in dentistry. The
Turmeric can be used in following ways offer relief from use of plants and herbs for dental care is a very common
dental problems:[20] indigenous system of medicine and we must include it in
our everyday life. Further research is needed for the proper
• Rinsing the mouth with turmeric water (boil 5 g of turmeric use of turmeric in Dentistry.
powder, two cloves, and two dried leaves of guava in 200 g
water) gives instant relief. REFERENCES
• Massaging the aching teeth with roasted, ground turmeric
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Indian J Dent Res, 20(1), 2009 108

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Turmeric in dentistry Chaturvedi

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How to cite this article: Chaturvedi TP. Uses of turmeric in dentistry: An
S, Chantrakul C, Thanaveerasuwan T, et al. Randomized double-blind update. Indian J Dent Res 2009;20:107-9.
study of Curcuma domestica Val for dyspepsia. J Med Assoc Thai
Source of Support: Nil, Conflict of Interest: None declared.
1989;72:613-20.

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