Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Persimmon (Diospyros kaki) has a history of traditional use in East Asian medicine, including in China, Korea, and Japan, where various parts of the plant (notably the fruit and leaves) have been used for their purported health benefits. For oral health specifically, persimmon tannin has been traditionally used in some cultures as a remedy to manage bleeding gums and mouth ulcers due to its astringent properties. Folk remedies sometimes involved chewing persimmon leaves or using decoctions as a mouth rinse to soothe inflamed or bleeding gums.

However, robust scientific evidence directly linking persimmon or its extracts to improved gum health is limited. Some laboratory studies have shown that persimmon extracts possess antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, which could theoretically benefit oral health by reducing bacterial load and inflammation in the gums. For example, research has demonstrated that persimmon-derived tannins can inhibit the growth of oral bacteria associated with periodontal disease. Still, these findings are largely preclinical, and there are few, if any, well-designed human clinical trials examining persimmon's efficacy for gum health. Thus, while traditional use supports persimmon for gum support, scientific validation remains preliminary and incomplete.

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