Oral health in perspective of Unani literature: A review

Abstract

Oral health is vital to quality of life as it ensures social and physical well-being and it acts as the mirror through which general health is reflected. It is said that oro- dental diseases are the on the top as compared to some common diseases in the world. Poor oral hygiene is a known essential predisposing factor of some oral diseases. Oral diseases in their various forms have afflicted humans since the dawn of the history. A discussion about oral diseases is mentioned in ancient Chinese, Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Arabic and ancient Indian medical and surgical treatises. Many renowned Unani physicians have too mentioned about various oral diseases and unhygienic conditions in their respective books. They have clearly mentioned how to maintain oral health and treat various oral conditions in their respective rich Unani texts. Present review paper is an attempt to throw some light over oral hygiene and practices, its historical background and diseases which occur due to poor oral health light of the Unani literature. This paper also attempts to highlight the possible management and preventive measures of oral diseases through Unani medicine.