Abstract:

The oral cavity is the initial path of the human digestive system, which is essential to people’s health. Lack of proper oral nursing leads to a variety of oral problems including oral ulcers, periodontal disease, dental caries, bad breath, etc. Oral problems not only negatively affect the normal quality of life, pronunciation, and personal appearance, but also affect systemic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, stroke, and multi-organ inflammation. Oral problems are affected by the immune status of human body and various external stimuli such as tobacco and alcohol. Consistent and effective oral care can clean the mouth and prevent many oral problems. However, some active ingredients in traditional oral care products usually have many side effects. For example, chlorhexidine mouthwash, which is commonly used in oral nursing, has side effects such as allergic reactions and numbness of the tongue. In recent years, with the continuous development of daily chemical products, people’s awareness of oral care has become stronger and stronger, and the search for safe and effective oral care products has also received more and more attention from cosmetic companies and consumers. Herein, several common oral problems in daily life were introduced. The factors that could result in oral problems were reviewed, such as the oral microecology, aging, nutritional status, and other external substances. In addition, some existing nursing measures for oral problems were introduced. Many new natural actives with antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-aging properties were introduced, such as curcumin, hyaluronic acid, ergothioneine and epigallocatechin-3-gallate. Their possible effects in oral cavity were analyzed from multiple perspectives, such as inhibiting pathogenic bacteria, anti-inflammation, and promoting collagen production. The applications of natural extracts in oral nursing were reviewed, aiming to provide a reference for oral care products.

Key words: oral problem, daily-use chemical product, oral nursing