Herbal products are gaining popularity in dental and medical practice nowadays due to their biocompatibility, higher antimicrobial activity, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Herbal medicine has experienced rapid growth in recent years due to its beneficial properties, ease of availability, and lack of side effects. As pathogenic bacteria become more resistant to antibiotics and chemotherapeutic agents, researchers are becoming more interested in alternative products and treatment choices for oral diseases. As a result, natural phytochemicals separated from plants and utilized in traditional medicine are suitable substitutes for synthetic chemicals. The aim of this review article is to list and understand several herbal alternatives that are currently accessible for use as efficient endodontic medicaments. The herbal products used in endodontics have several advantages, including safety, ease of use, increased storability, low cost, and a lack of microbial tolerance. However, preclinical and clinical testing and interactions with other materials and adverse effects are required for these herbal products.

(1) Purpose: To assess the oral health literacy (OHL) of parents and its association with the caries experience of their preschool children attending the Hospital University Sains Malaysia (HUSM), Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia. (2) Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study involving a systematic random sampling method, using a sample of 230 parent/preschool child dyads. Among 230 parents, 24 were males and 206 were females (mean age 31.43 ± 5.82); among 230 children, 92 were boys and 138 were girls (mean age 4.82 ± 1.04) attending the pedodontics clinic, HUSM, who participated and met the inclusion criteria. A structured, self-administered oral health literacy questionnaire including sociodemographic factors was used in this study. A child’s oral examination was performed to check the dmft (decayed, missing, filled teeth) status. Statistical analysis was done using descriptive and Spearman’s correlation analysis and multivariate regression analysis. (3) Results: The mean dmft score of children in relation to the OHL level of parents showed a significant difference (p < 0.00). The mean dmft score of children in relation to the OHL level of parents showed the following relationships: Inadequate (7.49 ± 4.10) followed by marginal (3.28 ± 2.67) and then adequate (0.55 ± 1.55). The incidence of caries amongst children in relation to parental employment was more associated with unemployed parents (6.11 ± 4.43) than with employed parents (2.79 ± 3.65). The caries experience amongst children in relation to education of their parents revealed a significant difference (p < 0.001), and the mean dmft score was high amongst preschool children with primary school qualified parents (10.7 ± 4.10) followed by high school (7.04 ± 3.68), vocational (5.81 ± 3.57), diploma (2.61 ± 2.81), and university (1.29 ± 2.27), respectively. The results revealed a valid significant difference (negative correlation, r_s = −0.753 **) between the OHL of parents with the dmft score of their preschool children. The age and gender of parents was not significantly associated with OHL, whereas ethnicity (positive correlation, r_s = 0.283 **), education (positive correlation, r_s = 0.865 **), and employment (negative correlation, r_s = −0.490 **) were found to be significant. Conclusion: We conclude that there is a significant association between the OHL of parents with the dmft score of their preschool children. The logistic regression showed that after adjustment for sociodemographic factors, parents’ gender (OR = 0.067, 95% CI: 0.012–0.360), parents’ employment status (OR = 3.247, 95% CI: 0.897–11.754), parents’ OHL score (OR = 0.042, 95% CI: 0.016–0.114), and child age (OR = 2.195, 95% CI: 1.249–3.857) were significantly associated with dental caries in children. Our study concluded that parents’ employment status, age, gender, OHL, and child’s age were significantly associated with the caries experience of their preschool children.

Endodontic infections caused by pathogens such as Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus oralis, and Enterococcus spp. pose significant challenges due to biofilm formation and resistance to conventional treatments. Copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) exhibit promising antimicrobial properties, and coating them with biosurfactants may enhance stability while reducing cytotoxicity. The aim of the study was to synthesize and characterize CuNPs stabilized with biosurfactants derived from Achromobacter xylosoxidans and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and to evaluate their antimicrobial efficacy and cytotoxicity. Copper nanoparticles were synthesized using a chemical reduction method and coated with biosurfactants to prevent oxidation and aggregation. The nanoparticles were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Antimicrobial activity against E. coli, S. aureus, S. oralis, and Enterococcus spp. was evaluated using the well diffusion method and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Cytotoxicity was assessed using an MTT assay on L929 fibroblast cell lines. Characterization confirmed the formation of spherical CuNPs with sizes ranging from 90 nm to 100 nm. Both CuO+P5C and CuO+P11 nanoparticles demonstrated potent antimicrobial activity against all tested pathogens, with a MIC value of 125 μg/mL. Cytotoxicity results showed minimal toxicity, with nearly 78-80% cell viability maintained at concentrations of up to 100 μg/mL, indicating excellent biocompatibility. Biosurfactant-coated CuNPs represent a stable, eco-friendly and effective antimicrobial alternative for addressing persistent endodontic infections. Further in vivo studies and extended cytotoxicity evaluations are needed to confirm their clinical application.