# Therapeutic applications of red marine seaweeds in dental care: innovations in oral health and treatment

## TL;DR

Red marine seaweeds show promise in dental care due to their bioactive compounds, offering natural solutions for oral health and treatment.

## Contribution

This review highlights the novel therapeutic applications of red marine seaweeds in dentistry, including drug delivery and oral hygiene products.

## Key findings

- Red seaweeds exhibit antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties beneficial for oral health.
- Carrageenan-based films show potential for controlled drug delivery and tissue regeneration in the mouth.
- Seaweeds can be used to create eco-friendly oral hygiene products like mouthwashes and toothpastes.

## Abstract

Red marine seaweeds, particularly those belonging to the genus Rhodophyta, possess a robust structural framework and are rich in biologically active compounds such as carrageenan, agar, collagen, and alginate. These natural resources are abundant and have attracted significant attention for their therapeutic potential in oral healthcare. This review highlights the applications of red marine seaweeds in dentistry, focusing on their roles in maintaining oral health, facilitating wound healing, exhibiting antibacterial properties, and contributing to tooth remineralization. Notably, their anti-inflammatory activity supports the management of conditions such as gingivitis, periodontitis, and oral ulcerations, while their antibacterial and antifungal actions effectively inhibit oral pathogens such as Streptococcus mutans, a primary contributor to dental caries. Furthermore, carrageenan-based biodegradable films derived from red seaweeds demonstrate promising potential as controlled drug delivery systems and tissue-regenerative biomaterials within the oral cavity. Beyond clinical applications, seaweeds can also serve as sustainable sources for formulating naturally derived oral hygiene products – including mouthwashes, toothpastes, and gels – offering eco-friendly alternatives to synthetic chemicals. However, despite these advances, broader clinical adoption requires comprehensive and well-designed clinical trials to validate efficacy and safety. Overall, this review underscores the emerging potential of red marine seaweeds as sustainable, bioactive resources for innovative dental therapeutics, while emphasizing the need for continued translational and clinical research.