Aloe vera: Natural, home remedy treats canker and cold sores
The Academy of General Dentistry,  22 Mar 2005   

New reports prove that the aloe vera plant, which has been used to heal skin for more than 2,000 years, can also treat many oral health problems including canker sores, cold sores, herpes simplex viruses, lichen planus and gingivitis according to the January/February issue of General Dentistry, (“Aloe vera gel: Update for dentistry”) the Academy of General Dentistry's (AGD) clinical, peer-reviewed journal.

"There is good evidence to support using aloe vera for oral health problems," says AGD spokesperson Kenton A. Ross, DMD, FAGD. "I believe a number of patients will be interested in this inexpensive alternative."

Aloe vera accelerates healing and reduces pain associated with canker sores, which are blisters on the lips or mouth. Aloe vera does not have a bad taste or sting when applied.

The journal article, written by Richard L. Wynn, PhD, mentions a study done on a patient with lichen planus, a disease affecting the skin and oral mucus membranes. The patient drank 2.0 ounces of aloe vera juice daily and topical applied aloe vera lip balm. The oral lesions cleared up in four weeks and complete success was achieved.

Dr. Wynn cited the study as showing that oral health problems can be treated with aloe vera. "Aloe vera can be taken both as the aloe vera juice and aloe vera gel. These are the two modes of delivery recognized by the FDA," says Dr. Wynn.

Those interested in using aloe vera for oral health problems are encouraged to speak with a dentist for proper treatment techniques.

Academy of General Dentistry
http://www.agd.org

Dental irrigators

RESEARCH LETTERS
British Dental Journal (2005); 198, 756-757.

 Sir, I must concur with P. T. Blenkinsopp's letter (BDJ 2005; 198: 385) regarding the ready availability and promotion of dental irrigators in the UK. At the BDA Conference in 2004, Dr Philip Preshaw's Talking Points in Dentistry lecture on 'Full mouth disinfection' recommended subgingival irrigation with chlorhexidine immediately after full and thorough scaling. He suggested the cleaning should be completed in the minimum time from start to finish when two or more appointments were required for periodontal treatment, the recommended chlorhexidine irrigation being used to minimise the recolonisation of any remaining pathogenic microbial flora to the freshly scaled crevices and pockets. Continued use of irrigation at home would complete the treatment to a more satisfactory level. Unfortunately, chlorhexidine has well known disadvantages when used for any length of time.

While irrigation does reduce the debris and loose bacterial content of the interdental spaces and crevices, adding mouthwash does little to reduce the pathogenic microbial biofilms. US firm Aloe Vera of America, Inc commissioned bacteriological studies for their newly developed stabilised aloe vera in the 1970s and 1980s Their patented stabilisation process kept the bio-activity the same as that of the freshly cut aloe leaves. This process prevented the destructive oxidation of the beneficial properties of the inner gel. Their investigations showed that Streptoccus mutans and its biofilm, when immersed in high concentrations of the stabilised aloe vera, literally came away from the hard tissue surface of the tooth, and subsequent regrowth was suppressed. With the biofilm gone, plaque and calculus did not develop. The company found that a number of other periodontal pathogens were similarly affected. Irrigation was the vehicle of choice in delivering the stabilised aloe vera into the crevice and pocket areas. Also noted were the anti-inflammatory and desensitisation benefits of the plant material to the adjacent tissues. Suitable irrigators such as the Water Pik should be promoted and be more widely available, as they are another excellent aid in the treatment and management of periodontal disease. Suitable additives to the irrigation fluid can actively prevent or minimise the destructive actions of pathogenic microbial flora in the oral environment. The message is wipe and wash, or tape and irrigate.

G. C. Leigh,  Somerset

Lichen planus--report of successful treatment with aloe vera.
Hayes SM.
Gen Dent. 1999 May-Jun;47(3):268-72.

Lichen planus is a disease that involves the skin and mucous membranes. It is characterized by unique eruptions. The cause of this disease is unknown, but has been linked to emotional stress, and has also been attributed to viral infections. A case is described of a successful treatment of lichen planus

Changes in root sensitivity with toothpastes containing Aloe Vera and allantoin. Garnick, J.; Hanes, P.J.; Hardim, J.; Thompson, W.    Archives of Oral Biology. 1994. 39 (Suppl.) 132S