Natural Resources in Oral Healthcare: Therapeutic Potential, Clinical Evidence, and Translational Challenges- A Scoping Review

Objectives Natural resources have long been used in oral healthcare and are increasingly investigated as potential adjuncts or alternatives to conventional dental therapies. Growing interest in biocompatibility, patient acceptability, and sustainability has prompted renewed evaluation of plant-based products and natural biomaterials in dentistry; however, the scope, clinical evidence, and translational challenges of these interventions remain incompletely mapped. This scoping review aimed to systematically examine the therapeutic applications, clinical evidence, and translational challenges of using natural resources in oral healthcare. Method The review was conducted in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and reported in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. A comprehensive search of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and manual reference screening was performed. Studies evaluating natural resource–based interventions for preventive, therapeutic, or regenerative dental applications were included without restriction on study design or publication year. Results Data were charted descriptively and synthesised thematically. Twenty-one studies published between 2000 and 2025 met the inclusion criteria, comprising randomised controlled trials, in vitro studies, observational studies, and ethnobotanical surveys. Plant-derived products accounted for the majority of interventions and were primarily used for plaque control, gingival inflammation, oral mucosal conditions, and enamel remineralisation. Several natural agents demonstrated beneficial effects on clinical outcomes, with some studies reporting improvements comparable to those of conventional treatments such as chlorhexidine in short-term evaluations; however, these findings should be interpreted cautiously due to heterogeneity in study design and the lack of formal quality assessment. Regenerative applications and long-term clinical evidence were limited, and issues related to Standardisation, regulatory approval, safety assessment, and sustainability were inconsistently addressed. Conclusion Natural resources demonstrate potential as adjunctive approaches in oral healthcare; however, the current evidence remains heterogeneous and methodologically limited, and further well-designed, standardised clinical studies are required before definitive conclusions can be drawn. Materials derived from plants and natural bioactives have demonstrated promising biological and clinical effects in preliminary and short-term studies; however, the current evidence remains heterogeneous and insufficient to establish definitive clinical effectiveness. Future research should prioritise well-designed clinical investigations, standardised formulations, and translational frameworks that incorporate safety, sustainability, and real-world applicability to support the evidence-based integration of natural products into contemporary dental practice. Given the descriptive nature of scoping reviews and the absence of formal risk-of-bias assessment, the reported findings should not be interpreted as definitive evidence of clinical equivalence.