Therapeutic potential of Vaccinium species in the prevention and management of erosion and dental caries: a systematic review.

Authors

Izanami Hernández-González, René García-Contreras, Miguel Ángel Fernández-Barrera, Rubén Jiménez-Alvarado, Carlos Enrique Cuevas-Suárez

Published in

Odontology. Sep 20, 2026. Epub Sep 20, 2026.

Abstract

According to the World Health Organization, oral diseases affect approximately 45% of the global population, constituting a major health concern. This systematic review aimed to analyze scientific literature on the species, compounds, uses, and applications of the genus Vaccinium in dentistry, focusing on its potential as therapeutic agents. The review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines. A comprehensive search was performed in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Embase up to December 2025, using predefined keywords related to Vaccinium species and dental caries. Eligible studies included in vitro and clinical trials investigating Vaccinium-based products for tooth decay, while reviews and studies lacking methodological detail were excluded. Risk of bias was assessed using the QUIN tool for in vitro studies and the Cochrane RoB 2 tool for randomized clinical trials. Data were extracted independently by three reviewers and synthesized narratively due to heterogeneity in study designs and outcomes. A total of 42 studies published between 1998 and 2025 were included. Results highlight the anticaries properties of Vaccinium species, particularly V. macrocarpon and V. corymbosum demonstrate promising anticariogenic properties. In vitro studies indicate that V. macrocarpon can remineralize enamel and dentin, while V. macrocarpon and V. vitis-idaea can reduce dental biofilm and combat oral pathogens. Despite limitations, the Vaccinium genus emerges as a promising candidate for managing oral health conditions. Further rigorous clinical trials are required to validate these findings. This review received no external funding, and the protocol for this systematic review was registered in OSF (10.17605/OSF.IO/XU3GE).

PMID:
42763376
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 20 Sep 2026.

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