A Scoping Review of Traditional Remedies and Indigenous Knowledge Systems for Oral Diseases Management in Africa

This scoping review aimed to map and synthesise the existing literature on (1) traditional remedies for the management of oral diseases in Africa, and (2) indigenous knowledge systems (IKS) for oral health promotion. A systematic search of PubMed, PubMed Central, ScienceDirect, JSTOR, and Google Scholar was conducted from database inception to February 5, 2026, using two distinct search strings. Reference lists of included studies were hand-searched. Studies were selected using the Population-Concept-Context framework with no language restrictions. Opinion pieces, in vitro or animal studies without a human context, and studies lacking a traditional use context were excluded. Two reviewers independently screened titles, abstracts, and full texts. Data were extracted using a standardised form and synthesised narratively. The search identified 19 eligible studies on traditional remedies conducted across eight African countries, documenting five most frequently cited plant species (Syzygium aromaticum, Thymus vulgaris, Acacia nilotica, Psidium guajava, and Juglans regia) with analgesic, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties. None of the studies evaluated safety or efficacy. Only three studies on IKS were identified, revealing holistic perspectives linking oral health to physical, spiritual, and social wellbeing. The review reveals a rich pharmacopoeia alongside a critical documentation gap for the knowledge systems in which remedies are embedded.