The Roles of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFAs) in Oral Health and the Management of Oral Diseases: A Narrative Review

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are essential fatty acids that have gained increasing attention because of their potential contributions to oral health and oral disease management. This narrative review provides an overview of PUFAs, discusses their biological roles in maintaining oral health, and summarizes current evidence regarding their therapeutic applications in oral diseases. Omega-3 fatty acids, particularly eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), exhibit anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antioxidative, tissue-reparative, and microbiome-modulating properties that may support oral tissue homeostasis. Evidence suggests that these biological activities contribute to the reduction of periodontal inflammation, modulation of immune responses, attenuation of oxidative stress, promotion of tissue repair, and maintenance of oral microbial balance. Clinical studies have demonstrated the potential benefits of PUFAs in the management of recurrent aphthous stomatitis, oral mucositis, oral submucous fibrosis, periodontal diseases, oral cancer, and systemic conditions that affect oral health, such as Sjögren’s syndrome. In addition, omega-3 fatty acids have shown promise as adjunctive therapies capable of improving clinical outcomes when combined with conventional treatment approaches. Despite encouraging findings, challenges related to bioavailability, optimal dosage, long-term efficacy, and standardized treatment protocols remain. Overall, current evidence supports the potential role of PUFAs as dietary and therapeutic agents for promoting oral health and improving the management of oral diseases, although further high-quality clinical studies are required to strengthen the evidence base and facilitate clinical translation.