It reduces dental plaque
Tooth decay and diseases of the gum are very common health problems. One of the best ways to prevent these conditions is to reduce the buildup of plaque, or bacterial biofilms, on the teeth.
In a mouth rinse studyTrusted Source of 300 healthy people, researchers compared 100% pure aloe vera juice with the standard mouthwash ingredient chlorhexidine.
After 4 days of use, the aloe vera mouth rinse appeared to be just as effective as chlorhexidine in reducing dental plaque.
Another studyTrusted Source found similar benefits of aloe vera mouth rinse over a 15- to 30-day period.
Aloe vera gel is effective in killing the plaque-producing bacterium Streptococcus mutans in the mouth, as well as the yeast Candida albicans.
It helps treat canker sores
Many people experience mouth ulcers, or canker sores, at some point in their lives. These usually form underneath the lip, inside the mouth, and last for about a weekTrusted Source.
Studies have shown that aloe vera treatment can accelerate the healing of mouth ulcers.
For example, in a 7-day studyTrusted Source of 180 people with recurrent mouth ulcers, applying an aloe vera patch to the area was effective in reducing the size of the ulcers.
However, it did not outperform the conventional ulcer treatment: corticosteroids.
In another studyTrusted Source, aloe vera gel not only accelerated the healing of mouth ulcers, it also reduced the pain associated with them.
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It reduces constipation
Aloe vera may also help treat constipation.
This time it is the latex, not the gel, that provides the benefits. The latex is a sticky yellow residue present just under the skin of the leaf.
The key compound responsible for this effect is called aloin, or barbaloin, which has well-establishedTrusted Source laxative effects.
However, people have raised concerns about safety with frequent use. For this reason, aloe latex has not been available in the U.S. as an over-the-counter medication since 2002Trusted Source.
Contrary to popular belief, aloe vera does not appear to be effective against other digestive conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome or inflammatory bowel disease.
It may improve skin and prevent wrinkles
There is some preliminary evidence to suggest that topical aloe vera gel can slow aging of the skin.
In a 2009 studyTrusted Source of 30 females over the age of 45, taking oral aloe vera gel increased collagen production and improved skin elasticity over a 90-day period.
ReviewsTrusted Source also suggest that aloe vera could help the skin retain moisture and improve skin integrity, which could benefit dry skin conditions.
It lowers blood sugar levels
People sometimes use aloe vera as a remedy for diabetes. This is because it may enhance insulin sensitivity and help improve blood sugar management.
For example, a reviewTrusted Source of eight studies found that aloe vera could have benefits for people with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes due to its effects on glycemic control.
However, the quality of the existing studies is not ideal, so scientists do not currently recommend using aloe vera for this purpose.
