Five Effective Ayurvedic Dental Care Methods
While Ayurvedic medicine approaches each person as a unique combination of doshas and requirements, basic oral hygiene is universal, and Vedic methods have proven to be efficacious — the National Institute for Health (NIH) has published 22 favorable studies confirming the value of these ancient health practices.
Dental care falls under the umbrella of Ayurvedic surgery — there was no specialized dentistry branch within the Vedic system. Teeth are considered part of the skeletal system, and sockets are seen as joints. Oral health in Ayurveda is linked to overall health and well-being, and the condition of the mouth and tongue are considered a window to the body’s health.
The mouth and teeth are also used to determine dosha imbalances. In the most general terms, oral mucus and plaque, along with a white coating on the tongue, indicates kapha imbalances; dry, cracked lips, tooth pain, receding gums and cavities indicate vata imbalances; mouth ulcers, bleeding gums, and tooth sensitivity are associated with pitta imbalances.
Gooseberries, or Amla.
Five Ayurvedic Dental Care Practices:
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Amla, or Gooseberry
This fruit, in fresh or dried forms, is known to support the connective tissues in the gums and keep teeth from loosening. The fruit works slowly over the long term, but the results are long lasting. Gooseberry fights bacteria and protects from decay, cavities and bad breath. In India, the fresh fruit is chewed, but amla powder is available in the West via online retailers or Vedic pharmacies. This brand is certified organic. One method for amla delivery is making a mouth rinse:
- Put two green tea bags in one cup of boiling water.
- Let cool, then add one tablespoon amla powder.
Use as a mouth rinse before bedtime. Refrigerate, and shake well before using.
Tooth Cleaning Sticks
2. Miswak and Neem Tooth-Cleaning Twigs
Miswak twigs are from the arak tree. The sticks have been used for thousands of years in the Middle East and Asian sub-continent. Research shows that, compared with a toothbrush, miswak twigs are more effective on streptococcus bacteria and its mutations. They are also less abrasive than traditional tooth brushes. The World Health Organization recommends miswak sticks, for third world populations without access to Western toothbrushes and paste. Some prefer them to commercial toothbrushes, manual and electric, because they are gentle on tooth enamel. No toothpaste is required, and sticks can be used several times a day between meals. Miswak sticks also whiten teeth and remove stains.
Neem sticks are also widely used, but store fresh sticks in the freezer or refrigerator wrapped in paper — not plastic. Clinical trials showed neem sticks are as effective, in some cases more so, as conventional toothbrushes. According to Ayurvedic practitioner and expert John Douillard, neem is called “the village pharmacy” in rural India. The plant and its extractions are used for skin care, digestive balance, treating halitosis, and immune support as well as oral hygiene.
Himalayan Pink Salt
3. Salt
For thousands of years, salt has been used for its “drawing” action, which helps pull infection from inflamed tissues. The ancients did not used table salt processed with aluminum and stripped of natural minerals. Rather, they sought pure, natural salts, either mined or extracted from sea water. Used as one of the earliest forms of currency, salt is essential to human survival. Representing the earth element, salt is one of the three fundamental alchemical substances, along with mercury (water) and sulphur (fire).
In Ayurveda, salt heats and calms the body. Used for food preservation, salt was consumed in larger quantities during winter. When a cold or sore throat is coming on, a salt gargle and mouth rinse restores the mouth’s pH balance, discouraging bacterial growth. Regular salt gargles are an excellent preventative during cold and flu season.
Tongue Scraping
4. Tongue Scraping
Tongue scraping originated with Chinese medicine but was adopted by the Vedics and is believed to have countless benefits. By cleaning surface tissue, taste buds are able to detect and process the six different tastes (sour, sweet, bitter, pungent, salty), making these substances available to the rest of the body. Tongue scraping is considered good for all the organs, and Ayurvedic medicine asserts that the practice clears the mind and reduces ama (toxins, dead bacteria). Our modern tongue scrapers are made from stainless steel, copper, and occasionally bamboo or plastic, and are widely available at natural health food stores or online retailers. Ideally, the tongue is scraped before eating and after oil pulling (see below).
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Oil Pulling
This method, called Kavala in Ayurvedic texts, is now recognized for efficacy and effectiveness by the NIH. Oil pulling results in reductions in plaque-induced gum disease and bacterial colony counts in the mouth. According to the NIH:
“Oil pulling is a powerful detoxifying Ayurvedic technique that has recently become very popular as a complementary and alternative remedy for many health ailments. Using this method, surgery or medication could be prevented for a number of chronic illnesses. The oil therapy is preventative as well as curative. The exciting aspect of this healing method is its simplicity. Ayurveda advises oil gargling to purify the entire system, as it holds that each section of the tongue is connected to different organ such as to the kidneys, lungs, liver, heart, small intestines, stomach, colon, and spine, similarly to reflexology and Traditional Chinese Medicine.”
Oil pulling instructions are widely available on the internet. Some people prefer to use organic, unrefined, cold-pressed sesame oil, while others believe organic virgin coconut oil has extra benefits. Ayurveda also advises gargling, then massaging the gums with unrefined, organic warm sesame oil. For toothaches, mix with clove oil; for gum health, many add Amla powder to the oil and massage the gums.
Watch this episode of Ayurveda for Detox for more effective health tips:
About the Author
Can Earthing Repair Free Radical Damage, Improve Sleep, Increase Energy?
In all likelihood, you’ve tried Earthing (also known as grounding) whether you knew it or not. You know, you were strolling down the beach or sitting in your backyard, and you decided it was time for the shoes to come off. Sinking your toes into that warm grass or sand feels so good, doesn’t it? Turns out there’s a reason for that, and it’s more than just a moment of peace. It’s also a booster for your health!
You have the basic idea of Earthing, but getting into the specifics, it’s defined as the practice of obtaining the healing properties of the Earth through the simple act of touching it. You might be a little skeptical, but the good news is, there are medical practitioners who back it up, such Laura Koniver, M.D., of Summerville, S.C.
To understand the health benefits, Dr. Koniver says, we must also understand free radicals. You’ve probably heard of them as something to protect our bodies against, and you’re on the money. Free radicals are highly reactive atoms, molecules or ions that have unpaired electrons. Free radicals are “intimately connected to inflammation,” and inflammation is linked to cancer, heart disease, immune dysfunction, aging and cognitive decline. Dr. Koniver explains, “Using your body in any way, shape or form can create inflammation, so even during something healthy like yoga, where we’re stretching and creating microscopic tears to the muscles, we’re still building up free radicals.”
It’s pretty unavoidable, but it’s also just what happens living on our earth. It’s natural and normal, but it’s also something to actively combating, as free radicals do damage to our bodies. The most common and talked-about method is through antioxidants that neutralize the damage. However, Koniver maintains that Earthing is the best practice, and that consuming antioxidants is “definitely a drop in the bucket compared to what Earthing can do.”
The science behind Earthing is simple. According to Dr. Koniver, the free radicals that we build up throughout the day are positively charged, and the surface of the Earth is negatively charged.
“It’s a symbiotic thing,” adds Dr. Koniver. She argues that if we can get our vitamin D from the sun and our oxygen from the trees, we too can get healing electrons from the ground. In Dr. Koniver’s words, “We are meant to build up free radicals and inflammation by the way we live our lives, and the Earth is our docking base.”
A list of Earthing Health Benefits:
- Reducing inflammation by defusing excess positive electrons
- Reducing chronic pain
- Improving sleep
- Increasing energy
- Lowering stress and promoting calmness by reducing stress hormones
- Normalizing biological rhythms including circadian rhythm
- Improving blood pressure and blood flow
- Relieving muscle tension and headache
- Lessens menstrual and female hormone symptoms
- Speeds healing- used in some places to prevent bedsores
- Can eliminate jet lag
- Protecting the body from EMFs
- Shortens recovery time from injury or athletic activity
- Reducing or eliminating snoring
- Helping support adrenal health
- Weight loss
Getting started on Earthing is an extremely easy thing, as well. It’s free. It can be practiced almost anywhere. The instructions are simple. You just have to take off your shoes, to make sure you have exposure to the ground itself. You can wear socks if you want, as well. Koniver assures that you will still get the electron transfer necessary for the benefits.
This transfer, according to Koniver, can also be made through any point of the body, as long as that body part is making direct contact with the ground. So you can always take a nap in a sunny field, writing it off as a health benefit! How awesome is that?
Again, Earthing can be practiced almost anywhere, but Dr. Koniver points out that some places are better than others. “To me, if healthy grass is growing outside over a layer of soil, it’s connected to the crust of the Earth, and that’s all it needs to be,” says Koniver. Beaches are on the top of the list, as the moisture from the ground acts as a conductor, but grass, sand, rock, dirt, soil, all give health benefits as well.
Even concrete that’s been laid over the crust of the Earth can do the trick, though it’s not optimal. “Concrete acts as a semi-conductor,” says Koniver, “so if you live in a city with no real access to nature, you can map out a little patch and kick off your shoes.”
More good news about Earthing is that there is absolutely no such thing as overindulgence. Your body can benefit from just a few minutes, though 10 a day is the sweet spot as the minimum, according to Konniver. She truly believes you should work as much barefoot walking into your day as possible, whether it’s walking barefoot to get the mail or taking a quick stroll around your block.
In conclusion, it’s important to note that there are no current studies that definitively prove that Earthing has a major impact on human life. Some critics call it a placebo effect and nothing more. However, getting out in nature, grabbing a little sun, and moving your body a bit more during your day cannot be a bad thing for you. So there is nothing to fear if you want to give the practice a try. After all, all you have to do is kick off your shoes and sink your toes into earthy goodness. Ahhhh!
