Home Remedies And Health Tips

5. DANTADHAVAN & JEEVHANIRLEKHANA (Brushing of teeth & Cleaning of tongue)

Teeth and tongue should be cleaned twice a day, after elimination of urine and faeces at morning and after consumption of food at evening. Principally twigs of kasaya(astringent), katu(pungent/spicy) and tikta(bitter) rasa dominant tree like Neem, Arka/madar (Calotropis procera), nyagrodha/banyan (Ficus Begalansis) , khadira/khaira (Acacea catechu), Karanja (Pongamia pinnata) etc. are used for this purpose. These taste help in strengthening of gums, teeth and enhance the taste of food. Dantadhavan is entirely different from the modern activity of brushing the teeth, specifically because these sticks used are chewed, chewing stick shows its results due to the pharmacological properties of selected stick and its chewing, rubbing action. The tip of the twig should be chewed to prepare soft bristle and without harming the gum,
teeth should be cleaned starting from the lower row of teeth facing east or northern direction. The twig which I used for dantadhavana should poses some special character like it should be straight, devoid of branches and knots, grown in good land and everyday new twig should be used for tooth brushing. Some acharya opined that powder of trikatu, triphala, trijataka should be used along with twig.

*Length of Dantakastha(Datoon):

The twig which is used to clean the teeth is called dantakastha. Thickness should be like tip of the little finger and length should be of 12 anguli (finger).

Benefits: This removes foul smell, tastelessness, dirt from tongue and teeth bring freshness of mouth and increase taste sensation as it pacifies kapha dosha and open up channels.

In today’s scenario, most of the tooth paste used contains madhura rasa(Sweet taste). Research has shown that dantadhavana using herbal twig alters the salivary pH and it become alkaline, which helps to neutralize the acid which is produced by pathogenic bacteria. This phenomenon helps to protect the teeth as this acid is the main responsible factor for dental decay. Basically twigs of Arka (Calotropis procera), Neem (Azadiracta indica), khadira (Acacia catechu), Karanja (Pongamia pinnata) etc. are used for dantadhavana and antimicrobial activity of these herbs has been established in several studies. Studies revealed that latex of arka (Calotropis procera) poses strong inhibitory effect on specific microorganisms.

Further, Taxifolin, which is the main constituent of khadira (Acacea catechu), possesses antifungal, antiviral, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity. Certain studies prove that Karanja (Pongamia pinnata) poses antimicrobials as well as effective in prevention of dental caries.

Chemicals like triclosan, chlorhexidine, calcium carbonate, sorbitol, sodium lauryl sulphate, hydrated silica, flavor, magnesium aluminium silicate, potassium nitrate, sodium monofluorophosphate, benzyl alcohol, sodium silicate, cellulose gum, triclosan and sodium saccharin etc. are used in mouth rinses and dentifrices to prevent plaque and gingivitis now a days. But some of these chemicals especially sodium lauryl sulphate may have toxic effect.

Thus Dantadhavana abide the rule of Ayurveda obviously helpful in maintaining of oral health. It prevents dental carries by maintenance of salivary pH and promotion of salivary secretion. Further antimicrobial and healing property also present in herbal twigs which are used for dantadhavana and are easily available. Publicity of these techniques using appropriate media would benefit the population globally by giving more confidence in the ancient practices.

(Ref: Ayurveda texts and Google)