Oral Hygiene in Ayurveda

Ayurveda is not only a treatment system but it also advocates the preventative aspects of health. Its major aim is maintaining the healthy state of a healthy person. Dincharya has scientifically organized daily performable activities for a person to maintain their health status. There we can find a different aspect of preventative and promotive instructions relating to human health. Its tenets and axioms fall activities for maintaining oral health (Oral Hygiene).

A) Dantadhawan (Tooth Brushing)

Danta translates to teeth and Dhawan to washing. Thus the simple act of tooth brushing is known as Dantadhawan. Usually, a wooden stem was used for the process. The wooden stem is astringent, bitter or sweet in taste. The use of stem depends on the result desired. For example, the sweet stem helps in improving taste, while astringent helps in the fighting of tooth caries. Susruta mentioned catechu for astringent, licorice root for sweetness and Neem for bitter taste.

There is also an advocacy for use of charcoal. The cultural shift in British India brought an end to the practice; however charcoal toothpaste has recently found fame again. These can be used in replacement for the charcoal stick. Charcoal tends to make the mouth dry; however, the process is followed by a course of oil pooling. The classical method of tooth brushing provides excellent protective action against various dental diseases.

Contraindications for Dantadhawan are:

• During acute diseases of throat, palate, lips, tongue, ear, teeth and oral cavity.

• Indigestion, general debility, thirst, and fainting

• Acute alcoholic intoxication

• Facial palsy

• Shortness of breath, Cough, and Hiccups

B) Jiwah Nirlekhana (Tongue scrapping)

Tongue scrapping is second process of Oral Hygiene and it should be followed by the process of Jiwah Nirlekhana. Jiwah literally translates to tongue and Nirlekhana translates to scrapping. The process is done with a probe made up of gold, silver or wood.

C) Gandusha and Kabala (Oil pulling)

If any liquid is held on the oral cavity without any movement it is called as Gandusha. Kavala is the process where the retained liquid is made to move around the mouth. In Gandusha there is a usual massage of gums and palates which is helpful for maintaining healthy gums. It usually has to be done for twenty minutes to get full benefits of it. Oil or lukewarm water can be used for Gandusha. Various oils

can be used for the purposed of Gandusha. Usually, sesame oil is used by Vata people, coconut oil by pitta people and corn oil or olive oil by Kapha people.

Use of oil provides:

• Strength in jaw

• Normality invoice

• Activation of taste buds

• Enhancing hunger

• Eliminates dental caries and sensitivity

• Helps in strong mastication

• Aphthous ulcer

D) Eating of Tambula

Camphor, nutmeg, java pepper, clove, and betel nut are ingredients that are wrapped in the leaf of betel and consumed. It provides a fragrance to the oral cavity and clears the oral cavity. The ingredients used have anti-infective property. Also, this provides a cardioprotective action. Recent data suggest that better oral hygiene provides a better cardiac health. The ancient Ayurvedic physician knew about this provides a time-tested approach to Ayurveda.