Advancements in Ethnobotanical Sciences 2 2 2026 06 30 Medicinal Plants for Toothache Management in Northeastern Khuzestan: A Review of Traditional and Ethnobotanical Evidence 26 34 10.34172/jaebs.2026.11 EN Amir Mahmoudi https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7844-4187 Mobin Ghasemi https://orcid.org/0009-0009-2411-660X REVIEW 10.34172/jaebs.2026.11 2026 04 20 2026 06 10 Toothache is among the most common complaints affecting oral health and has historically been managed through a combination of traditional healing practices, indigenous knowledge, and, more recently, modern dental care. Medicinal plants have long constituted an important part of these traditional approaches. This review aimed to identify and compare medicinal plants reported for the management or alleviation of toothache in northeastern Khuzestan, southwestern Iran, based on evidence from traditional medicine and ethnobotanical sources. Relevant information on medicinal plants used to treat or alleviate toothache was compiled from available literature on traditional medicine and ethnobotanical practices in the region. Reported species were examined and compared according to their scientific names, botanical families, plant parts used, and reported therapeutic applications, with particular attention to their use for toothache and other oral complaints. Ten medicinal plants were reported in traditional medicine practices documented in Andimeshk for the relief of toothache. Among these species, members of the families Lamiaceae and Anacardiaceae were particularly represented. Ethnobotanical studies conducted in the region have additionally reported nine medicinal plants in connection with the treatment or alleviation of dental complaints. Among these, Dianthus crinitus, Teucrium polium, Fritillaria imperialis, Lycopersicum esculentum, and Solanum nigrum were more specifically associated with toothache relief. The occurrence of Teucrium polium in both traditional medicine and ethnobotanical records indicates a degree of convergence between the two bodies of knowledge, although the available evidence does not establish whether this reflects historical continuity, independent observation, or transmission of therapeutic practices. A diverse range of medicinal plants has been documented for toothache in northeastern Khuzestan, but overlap between traditional and ethnobotanical records is limited. These records may help identify candidate species for phytochemical, pharmacological, and, where justified, clinical research. Traditional use alone cannot establish efficacy, quality, or safety, and should not replace dental diagnosis and treatment.