Traditional Chinese Medicine: An Effective Adjuvant Treatment of Periodontitis.

OBJECTIVE

Periodontitis is recognized as the leading cause of tooth loss in adults and has emerged as a major challenge to global public health. This paper illustrates the good efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in the adjunctive treatment of periodontitis and emphasizes the important value of TCM in the study of the adjunctive treatment of periodontitis.

METHODS

We reviewed the relevant literature on the adjuvant treatment of periodontitis with TCM through the PubMed and Web of Science database systems and analyzed the literature mainly in four aspects: antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulation, and bone protection.

RESULTS

TCM has excellent efficacy in assisting the treatment of periodontitis. Its rich pharmacological activity not only exerts antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects, but also promotes the repair of bone defects. In addition, TCM is capable of regulating the differentiation of various stem cells. Furthermore, TCM could synergize multiple mechanisms for the treatment of periodontitis.

CONCLUSIONS

TCM shows therapeutic potential for periodontitis and provides a new direction for intervention in periodontitis. The complexity of the components of TCM has great medicinal value, and in-depth pharmacological studies can help improve the therapeutic effect and guide the rational use of medication for periodontitis in the clinic.