Relationships between curcuma and periodontitis: Literature overview

OBJECTIVES Controlled life styles and correct dietary habits operate on oxidative stress and on the mechanisms of inflammatory regulations, causing a reduction of its destructive effects. This literature review has the aim of underline curcumin anti-inflammatory effects on oral and periodontal tissues. MATERIALS AND METHODS A review of the literature was performed by inserting the following key words both in english and italian: periodontal disease, periodontitis, curcuma, curcumin, anti-aging medicine and oxidative stress. Only scientific articles and textbooks published between 1989 and 2016 were included. RESULTS Curcumin seems to be a valid anti-bacterial agent with good plaque reduction properties and it seems to have anti-inflammatory effects since is able to reduce gingival inflammation. In addition to non surgical periodontal therapy, curcumin showed an important reduction of gingival inflammation signs and bacteria reduction. CONCLUSIONS More and more researches confirm that inflammatory diseases can be managed better interfering with patients alimentation. Some types of food, as curcumin, can act to alle terapie tradizionali. Anche la parodontite potrebbe essere quindi meglio affrontata con interventi combinati di terapia tradizionale, igiene orale domiciliare e supporto nutrizionale e nutraceutico. as a support for traditional therapies. Therefore, also periodontitis could be better handled with combined interventions of traditional therapy, oral hygiene and nutritional and nutraceutical support.