Antioxidants in Dentistry

Oral cavity is the mirror to general health as it is interconnected with other systems of the body. The human body has inbuilt defence mechanism against various disease causing agents. A free radical is one of the reactive oxygen species which causes oxidative stress and further lead to cell damage and progression to other severe diseases. Antioxidants are the first line of defence against these free radicals. Antioxidants like beta-carotene, lycopene, selenium are believed to have a preventive role against various oral diseases. There is overwhelming evidence that oxidative stress occurs in cells as a consequence of normal physiological processes and environmental interactions, and that the complex web of antioxidant defence systems play a key role in protecting against oxidative damage. Its effects have been studied extensively in all the human body systems and almost all known diseases. Agreement should be arrived at the optimal dose of supplementation of specific antioxidants with respect to specific situations. Until then, antioxidant supplementation could be promoted by the health fraternity and the dental team as the benefits outweighs the risks in several folds.