Author Date

2020-06-19

Degree Name

Department

Microbiology and Molecular Biology

College

Life Sciences

Defense Date

2020-05-29

Publication Date

2022-06-19

First Faculty Advisor

Sandra Hope

First Faculty Reader

Roy Silcox

Honors Coordinator

R. Paul Evans

Keywords

melatonin, aphthous stomatitis, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, canker sores, oral health diseases, dentistry

Abstract

The hormone melatonin is best known for its role in the sleep-wake cycle, but its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects have significant implications that have not been fully explored in oral health. Some studies use melatonin to treat gastrointestinal ulcers, including duodenal ulcers and oral mucositis, but we found no study reporting its effects on more common oral ulcers, like aphthous stomatitis. We hypothesize that the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant characteristics of melatonin could effectively prevent and heal oral ulcers. In this paper, we review the literature on melatonin to propose its use as a treatment for oral ulcers. We also include the methods for two clinical trials to determine the efficacy and ideal concentration of melatonin as a topical treatment for oral ulcers. This paper provides insight on understanding aphthous stomatitis’s etiopathogenesis, melatonin’s safety profile, and offer an overdue indication for melatonin’s use in the oral cavity.