ANTI-INFLAMMATORY AND ANTIMICROBIAL EFFECTS OF LAVENDER OIL IN THE MANAGEMENT OF ORAL DISEASES

Mariana Păcurar, Dorin Ioan Cocoș, Kamel Earar

Abstract

Lavender essential oil (Lavandula angustifolia) has gained growing interest in oral medicine due to its dual antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory mechanisms, which extend beyond the conventional scope of topical antiseptics. Its primary constituents, linalool and linalyl acetate, exert synergistic effects on microbial membrane integrity, biofilm adhesion, and inflammatory signaling, providing both pathogen suppression and modulation of the mucosal microenvironment. Evidence demonstrates clinical utility in the treatment of denture stomatitis, mucositis, peri-implant mucosal inflammation, and postoperative wound repair, especially when delivered through modern pharmaceutical systems, such as mucoadhesive hydrogels, chitosan scaffolds, or nanohydroxyapatite composites. These biomaterial-based formulations enhance mucosal retention, increase local bioavailability, and maintain sustained therapeutic concentrations. In addition, lavender’s neuro-modulatory properties contribute to stress reduction and improved treatment tolerance, indirectly supporting mucosal healing in psychoneuroimmunologically mediated lesions. Its excellent safety profile and compatibility with regenerative dentistry principles position lavender as a bioadaptive therapeutic rather than a passive botanical extract. Together, the existing evidence suggests that lavender essential oil represents a promising adjunctive strategy in managing inflammatory and biofilm-associated oral pathologies, supporting a shift toward minimally invasive and integrative oral care.

DOI : 10.62610/RJOR.2025.3.17.23