**1. Introduction**

394 Contemporary Approach to Dental Caries

Wright CM. (2000). Identification and management of failure to thrive: a community

Zita AC, McDonald RE, Andrews AL. (1959). Dietary habits and the dental caries experience

perspective. *Arch Dis child*, 82: 5-9.

in 200 children. *J Dent Res*, 38: 860-5.

Daily use of an efficient anti-plaque compound, especially a formulated form in toothpaste, can be very beneficial in plaque control. Some groups of antimicrobial compounds have been studied thus far. The most important of these compounds are herbal extracts, metallic salts and phenol compounds. Each of these three groups has demonstrated positive results in clinical and laboratory studies. Herbal extracts have received special attention because of being non-chemical and non-synthetic, and they have been long used in traditional medicine ( Elvin 1980, Marsh & Bradshaw 1993).

In this section will be discussed about most important of plant extracts that have shown good effects on dental plaque and caries.
