Objective: To review the research conducted on the effect of the pistachio family on oral and dental diseases.
Materials and Methods: In this study, electronic databases including “PubMed”, “Scopus” and “ScienceDirect” were investigated to obtain evidence regarding the effect of Pistacia species on oral conditions. Systematic search was performed following PRISMA-ScR guidelines. A comprehensive literature search was conducted on English articles published from 2000 until July 2025 using relevant keywords related to the purpose of this review. Finally, 28 studies met our inclusion/exclusion criteria and were included in this review.
Results: Among Pistacia species, three species including P. lentiscus, P. atlantica and P. vera have been evaluated in different fields of oral healthcare such as microbial infections, dental caries, periodontitis and oral cancers. Chewing plant gum and mouthwashes were two main forms utilized in the clinical trials. These plants contain phytochemicals like monoterpenes and phenolics with antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties, so they can improve oral and dental conditions.
Conclusion: Pistacia species have the potential to be used for oral and dental complications, especially periodontal diseases. However, further studies are needed to identify the responsible phytochemicals and their mechanism of action. Also, clinical trials with a larger number of samples and using a positive control group are suggested.