Today, people around the globe are giving preference to alternative medicines such as ayurveda, naturopathy, homeopathy and herbal medicine. Herbal medicines have fallen in and out of favour with man throughout the ages. However they have continued to develop and are once again gaining popularity in today's world, particularly as there are growing concerns about the safety and side effects of pharmaceutical drugs. In light of this, herbal remedies are offering a safe and natural alternative for many ailments. A wide range of herbal based dentifrices and oral rinses are available in the market. The herbs tested in various recent clinical trials have shown to possess potent anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties which could be useful in controlling plaque, gingivitis and periodontitis.