Plants containing tannins, vitamin C and volatile oils have been used by indigenous populations as natural toothbrushes to assist with oral care. Essential oils and herbal extracts have also been used in dentistry for reducing inflammation and pain, and to reduce microbial plaque.1 This article will focus primarily on clove oil which may be used as a stand-alone treatment or in combination with other topical oral anaesthetics. The role of other essential oils, herbal extracts and topical coenzyme Ql 0 (CoQl 0) will also be discussed briefly.
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