Effect of polyphenols on periodontal diseases

Introduction: Polyphenpls are the most common antioxidants in foodstuffs, which have an important role in the prevention of chronic diseases. Periodontitis is a chronic disease of the supporting structures of teeth, which can destroy periodontal structures and result in tooth loss. The aim of this review article was to evaluate the effect of polyphenols on periodontal diseases.Review report: All the relevant articles indexed in the Pubmed from 2002 to 2011 were surveyed. After studying the abstracts of 48 collected articles, 13 irrelevant ones were excluded and full texts of 35 remaining articles were assessed.Conclusion: Regarding the existing articles about polyphenols, it appears consumption of polyphenol-containing products may be effective in plaque control and prevention of periodontal diseases. Therefore, it is suggested that the results of in vitro studies be assessed by clinical trials. Key words: Chronic periodontitis, Dental plaque, Gingivitis, Polyphenols.