Use of Natural Products in the Prevention and Treatment of Denture Stomatitis
Despite the wide variety of antifungal agents for the denture stomatitis (DS) treatment, they may induce hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic effects, allergic reactions and interactions with other medicaments, besides the emergence of antifungal resistance to the most commonly used classes of drugs. For these reasons, natural products present as an interesting therapeutic alternative. This narrative review summarizes the use of main natural products in the prevention and treatment of DS, which are obtained from propolis, Pelargonium graveolens, Equisetum giganteum, Punica granatum, and Melaleuca alternifolia. These substances are of ancient use in the medical field and, recently, have been widely reported in different dental specialties, mainly for their anti-inflammatory and antifungal action. Despite the favourable results obtained in the literature with such substances, the scientific evidence for the use of natural products in Dentistry, especially for the purpose of DS therapy is not conclusive, requiring further clinical studies to consolidate their application.