The Role of Moringa oleifera in Caries Prevention and Enamel Remineralization

Abstract Moringa oleifera (M. oleifera) is a plant of significant medical interest because of its abundance of bioactive compounds that exhibit antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. Leaf extracts of M. oleifera are also rich in essential minerals and proteins, highlighting their potential as natural therapeutic agents for use in oral health care. Recent investigations have explored the efficacy of these extracts in the prevention of dental caries and the promotion of dental enamel remineralization. This review aimed to consolidate the current evidence regarding the role of M. oleifera in caries prevention and enamel remineralization potential, to provide a critical evaluation of the strengths and limitations of the current literature while offering insights into the plant's therapeutic prospects as a natural agent for use in caries prevention and enamel remineralization. The review was achieved through an extensive literature search conducted across the PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases. The search was limited to original research articles, systematic reviews, and peer-reviewed publications written in English from 2005 to 2025. Letters to the editor, editorials, and case reports were excluded. While the preliminary findings indicated a promising therapeutic potential for M. oleifera in terms of preventing dental caries and promoting enamel remineralization, the existing literature is constrained by several limitations, including a lack of clinical trials, heterogeneity in the methodologies used, short study durations, and insufficient understanding of the underlying mechanisms. In conclusion, robust in vivo studies and collaborative efforts between researchers and clinicians are essential to facilitate the translation of laboratory findings regarding M. oleifera extracts into clinical dentistry applications.