What Is a Dentaceutical?

Dentaceutical® noun
den • tuh • soo • tuh • kl

Natural dental formulations that improve the health of teeth and gums, ultimately supporting whole-body wellness.

If you’ve never heard of this term, don’t be surprised. We made it up.

Seriously, we created the term dentaceutical because no word existed to describe what we knew to be seriously important: natural dental products that support whole-body wellness.

What’s Going On In Your Mouth

The second most diverse microbial community in the body is the mouth. It is home to over 700 species of bacteria. We swallow approximately 1.5 liters of saliva a day, and in each milliliter of saliva, there are 100,000,000 microorganisms.

A 2019 study observed salivary and fecal microbial strain populations of 310 species in 470 individuals. The researchers found a vast majority of oral species were translocated, with increased levels of transmission in colorectal cancer and rheumatoid arthritis patients.² The oral cavity serves as a reservoir of oral microbes whose ectopic gut colonization contributes to the pathogenesis of gastrointestinal and systemic diseases.³

It is well established in the literature – whatever grows in the mouth can grow in the gut. 

Whole-body health starts in your mouth!

Natural Dental Products to the Rescue

A great way to handle bacteria in the mouth is to bring in plant-based reinforcements. Oral healthcare products with botanically derived ingredients can remove dental plaque – aka biofilms – and restore microbial balance in the mouth.

Natural ingredients are just as effective (and gentler!) at cleaning teeth and freshening breath. Botanicals such as bilberry, black walnut, garlic, goldenseal, lavender, and oregano are well known for addressing unwanted microorganisms while leaving the beneficial microorganisms unharmed. 

These botanicals are also packed full of antioxidants, which help:

• Neutralize free radicals
• Support gingival tissue repair
• Prevent plaque from forming

(No fuzzy teeth? Score!)

Botanicals are tough on pathogenic microorganisms. The polyphenols in bilberry alone contain antibacterial components that address periodontopathic bacteria, such as Porphyromonoas gingivalis, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Prevotella intermedia, and Streptococcus mutans.⁴

While botanical-based dental products are tough on problematic microorganisms, they are gentle for those with sensitive teeth. And with all-natural ingredients, you avoid artificial colorings, flavorings, and dyes.

Use What Works (And Not What Doesn’t)

As for mouthwash, we all know it can be hogwash! Often, it kills the good bacteria along with the bad. But natural ingredients in an oral rinse will enhance the benefits of a botanically based toothpaste, all while preserving beneficial bacteria in the mouth. 

For example, in clinical research, topical application of the plant pigment quercetin has demonstrated healing properties to minor aphthous ulcers (canker sores) when compared to topical benzydamine hydrochloride mouthwash.⁵

In vitro, quercetin has also been found to be effective against several organisms associated with dental plaque, including Actinomyces naeslundii, Actinomyces viscosus, Aggregatibacter actinomycecomitans, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Lactobacillus casei, as well as Candida albicans.⁶

A potent antioxidant flavonoid, quercetin demonstrates antimicrobial activity against Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and Porphyromonas gingivalis bacteria which are associated with early onset, progressive, and refractory periodontal disease.^7,8

Individuals with periodontal disease often have a deficiency of CoQ10, and in several randomized clinical trials, topical application of CoQ10 has demonstrated improvement in multiple parameters, including gingival bleeding, plaque scores, gingival crevicular fluid flow, probing depth, and attachment loss.^9,10,11

Along with quercetin and CoQ10, throw in ingredients like aloe vera and myrrh, and you get tissue-soothing and antioxidant effects in your oral rinse! (Ahhh… spa day in your mouth.)

Back to Our New Word …

So the next time you’re hanging out talking about oral care, slip your new word into the conversation: “I’ve been recommending these new dentaceuticals, and I have to say I’m impressed.” 

If your colleagues say, “Denta-what?”, you’ll know they’re paying attention!

1. Kilian, M., Chapple, I., Hannig, M. et al. The oral microbiome – an update for oral healthcare professionals. Br Dent J 221, 657–666 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.2016.865
2.  Schmidt TS, Hayward MR, Coelho LP, et al. Extensive transmission of microbes along the gastrointestinal tract. Elife. 2019;8:e42693. Published 2019 Feb 12. doi:10.7554/eLife.42693
3.  Kitamoto S, Nagao-Kitamoto H, Hein R, Schmidt TM, Kamada N. The Bacterial Connection between the Oral Cavity and the Gut Diseases. J Dent Res. 2020;99(9):1021-1029. doi:10.1177/0022034520924633
4.  Satoh Y, Ishihara K. Investigation of the antimicrobial activity of Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) extract against periodontopathic bacteria. J Oral Biosci. 2020;62(2):169-174. doi:10.1016/j.job.2020.01.009

5.  Hamdy AA, Ibrahem MA. Management of aphthous ulceration with topical quercetin: a randomized clinical trial. J Contemp Dent Pract. 2010;11(4):E009-E16. Published 2010 Jul 1.

6.  Gutiérrez-Venegas G, Gómez-Mora JA, Meraz-Rodríguez MA, Flores-Sánchez MA, Ortiz-Miranda LF. Effect of flavonoids on antimicrobial activity of microorganisms present in dental plaque. Heliyon. 2019;5(12):e03013. Published 2019 Dec 13. doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e03013
7.  Geoghegan F, Wong RW, Rabie AB. Inhibitory effect of quercetin on periodontal pathogens in vitro. Phytother Res. 2010;24(6):817-820. doi:10.1002/ptr.3014
8.  Li M, Xu Z. Quercetin in a lotus leaves extract may be responsible for antibacterial activity. Arch Pharm Res. 2008;31(5):640-644. doi:10.1007/s12272-001-1206-5
9.  Nakamura R, Littarru GP, Folkers K, Wilkinson EG. Study of CoQ10-enzymes in gingiva from patients with periodontal disease and evidence for a deficiency of coenzyme Q10. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1974;71(4):1456-1460. doi:10.1073/pnas.71.4.1456
10.  Chatterjee A, Kandwal A, Singh N, Singh A. Evaluation of Co-Q10 anti-gingivitis effect on plaque induced gingivitis: A randomized controlled clinical trial. J Indian Soc Periodontol. 2012;16(4):539-542. doi:10.4103/0972-124X.106902
11.  Hanioka T, Tanaka M, Ojima M, Shizukuishi S, Folkers K. Effect of topical application of coenzyme Q10 on adult periodontitis. Mol Aspects Med. 1994;15 Suppl:s241-s248. doi:10.1016/0098-2997(94)90034-5