Ayurveda offers a variety of ways to keep your teeth healthy, strong, and beautiful, which have been practiced for thousands of years. In ancient times, ayurvedic dentists used these techniques to manage cavities, plaque, gingivitis, infections, and deformities of the mouth. They used traditional plant-based formulas in place of antibiotics, chewed on herbal sticks, and used medicated oils to strengthen the mouth, gums, and teeth. You’ll find some of these wonderful holistic remedies described below, which offer a less expensive, more natural, and self-loving approach to taking care of our teeth.
Tongue Scraping
Soon after getting up and before brushing, the tongue should be scraped. This clears the toxins and bacteria from the tongue, removes the coating causing bad breath, and stimulates digestion. The tongue contains an entire map of the body organs, so scraping it is like giving all your internal organs a lovely and gentle massage. The texts recommend using 7 to 14 strokes from back to front. Vata-type constitutions (high in the air and ether elements) should use a gold tongue scraper, while pitta types (high in the fire element) should use silver, and kapha types (high in the earth and water elements) should use a copper tongue scraper. But a stainless-steel tongue scraper is good for everyone.
Toothbrushing
Since the mid-1930s, the Western idea of toothbrushing has evolved into applying any one of several chemical toothpastes onto a toothbrush made of nylon bristles on a plastic molded handle. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends replacing brushes every 3 months or so. This has resulted in staggering numbers of toothbrushes ending up in our landfills.
As per Ayurveda, several different kinds of sticks taken from medicinal plants were used as toothbrushes during ancient times. The sages recommended these ‘herbal toothbrushes’ be nine inches long and as thick as one’s pinky finger. One end of the stick was crushed and chewed and used to clean the teeth. The sticks came from the fresh stems of specific plants, such as neem, licorice, and catechu plants. The bitter, astringent, and pungent tastes impart antimicrobial properties which also stimulate digestion, salivation, and even anti-carcinogenic actions. A similar tooth-cleaning twig, called miswaks from the peelu tree, was used in the Middle East and other areas of the world.
While most of us aren’t ready to switch to twig cleaning, we can use biodegradable toothbrushes made of bamboo and toothpowder or toothpastes with herbs that are bitter, pungent, and astringent such as neem, black pepper, pipalli, pomegranate, licorice, cinnamon, clove, chamomile, turmeric, ginger, triphala, eucalyptus, rock salt, and tea tree oil. These helps protect the teeth and gums from cavities, plaque, gingivitis, and infections. To whiten teeth, neem and babul (Acacia species) twigs were chewed. Other ways to keep your teeth nice and bright are to use a charcoal powder toothpaste or sprinkle a small measure of charcoal powder on top of your toothpaste to remove stains and gently polish the teeth.
Oil Pulling
There are two methods of oil pulling mentioned in the ayurvedic texts. The first is kavala or gargling with oil. The second is gandusha or holding oil in the mouth and occasionally gargling. In both cases, the oil should be kept in the mouth for 5 to 15 minutes. Sesame oil is preferred as it is heating and a natural antimicrobial. Coconut oil is cooling and can be used in the summertime or by pitta (fiery) constitution individuals. Sunflower oil is also a good option. The benefits of oil pulling are numerous: it strengthens the gums and teeth, is useful for dry mouth and throat, detoxifies, prevents bad mouth odor, improves taste perception, and has been used to relieve migraine headaches, temporomandibular joint (TMJ), and mouth ulcers.
Besides these ways of keeping our mouth and teeth healthy and strong, the gums can be massaged after brushing. Dipping the finger into a blended mixture including alum, which is astringent and tightens the gums, as well as salt, black pepper, and turmeric, the gums can be rubbed. Finally, instead of using harsh mouthwashes containing dyes and alcohol, a simple concoction of aloe vera juice with a drop or two of clove oil can be swished in the mouth after brushing the teeth to prevent bacterial build-up. Aloe is bitter, astringent and pungent and helps ward off microbes and also breaks up mucus.
By incorporating these teeth-strengthening ideas into your daily routine, you will soon feel better about your oral health, digestion, and overall immunity this fall and winter season!
Namaste!
Uma Hingorani
Advanced Ayurvedic Practitioner
References:
1.https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/brushing-and-flossing/history-of-toothbrushes-and-toothpastes#
2.Tooth brushing, oil pulling and tissue regeneration: A review of holistic approaches to oral health
3. https://www.news-medical.net/health/Charcoal-Toothpaste-Benefits-and-Risks.aspx
