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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
Naturopathic Medicine: The Therapeutic Order
Naturopathic doctors seek to heal the whole being. Rather than medical doctors who look at symptoms (pathology) and treat and prescribe the problem to force healing to occur, naturopathic medicine seeks to find natural balances to bring the body back to wholeness with gentle support.
The most basic tenant of naturopathic medicine is that healing is available within.
When we pay attention to our bodies and shift our way of life to support these most natural functions, the body will heal itself. The Earth around us is in harmony and we can use the elements – air, sun, food and herbs – to gain internal symbiosis. Contemplating the totality of the being, psychology and spirit may also play a part. Invasive treatments are the last resort and every effort is offered to support the internal wellness of the human system.
Principles of Naturopathic Medicine
Every ounce as valuable as medical doctors, Naturopathic Doctors (NDs) adhere to a strict code which differentiates them greatly from their pharmaceutical and surgery-seeking counterparts:
- Do no harm
- Treat the whole person
- Prevent disease
- Doctor as teacher
- Support the body
- Treat the cause
Beyond this alternative view of illness and disease is wellness. Health is the perfect state and every effort must be made to bring people back to their optimum alignment. The restoration of health is the goal, not treating symptoms alone.
If we can look at the symptoms – see what the disruption is to health and address those imbalances – we are empowered to restore well-being. Terminal and chronic conditions appear only when this disruption of ideal wellness is prolonged.
A client of mine once had liver cancer. Her prognosis was bleak but she was unwilling to give up alcohol to save her life. From a medical perspective, chemo and radiation were the only way to go. A naturopathic doctor instead may look at the underlying emotions which created this devotion to her addiction. Of course, the patient must be willing to seek help and be ready to address the changes necessary. Free will is key and doctors, no matter what their leanings, cannot save those who do not make their own well-being a priority. For my client, her comfort was more important than fighting for a life that had been filled with strife. Rather than impose our own fears, we can instead provide a space of respectful loving confidence in her decision and ease the end of life process.
The Therapeutic Order
The Therapeutic Order provides guidelines for NDs to make decisions to treat patients that are in alignment with the philosophical considerations of this natural model of care. It represents a hierarchy of elevation to treat in the least invasive and most supportive ways and avoid excessive procedures.
Remove Obstacles to Health
The first consideration is the optimum health of the patient. What are the circumstances or behaviors that are obstructing health and happiness? If we remove the obstacles to health, the body will restore on its own. Such inquires as nutrition, sleep, stress, spiritual practices and time in nature are the first step. When we can sustain happiness in a patient, they are well on their way to health.
Stimulate Life Force Energy
Life force energy is crucial to well-being. Prana must flow to enliven the organism and stimulate the energy centers which sustain life. After prolonged periods of dis-ease, the energy becomes stuck.
Many ancient practices understand the necessity for flowing prana and have sophisticated systems to address stimulation of the life force. These include acupuncture, homeopathy, hydrotherapy, yoga and spiritual endeavors like journaling, prayer and mediation. Any combination of these modalities may be offered to support the return to wellness.
Strengthen the Weakened Systems
While doctors may start treatment at this stage, this is where the body can begin to reveal that which is deeply compromised. NDs instead witness the affects of lesser modalities and the body illuminates where true support is needed. By addressing what is unable to restore itself, vitamins, minerals, fish oils, probiotics and holistic treatments may offer significant benefit.
This is often a desperate space for patients and it is where they begin to seek drastic intervention for the prolonged discomfort. By building upon life force energy and honoring what is working, suggestions are offered to strengthen the true depletion.
Correct Structural Integrity
As the issues at the organic and glandular system are soothed, it is the spinal and muscular system which require attention. Proper alignment brings the body into balance and can be achieved through massage, exercise, chiropractic care and stretching.
A compromised spine will block the flow of prana and affects every system in the body. Spinal Health is a cornerstone of yogic practices and fundamental to support the harmonious integrity of the soul in physical form.
Natural Substances to Control Symptoms
When required, vitamins and minerals may be the next step to restore wellness. Cautious efforts are considered and natural remedies are employed, as to not overtax the recuperating body system.
Use Pharmaceuticals to Control Symptoms
When the foundations of the Therapeutic Order stall, it might be beneficial to consider pharmaceuticals. Note: not all NDs may prescribe and each law varies by state.
Patients will often need to be referred to a medical doctor who can treat them with access to chemical remedies. In many cases, an ND can work with the medical doctor to ensure all aspects of care are being honored.
Use High Force Interventions
At this last stage, all other avenues to natural care have been exhausted and invasive interventions may provide the only relief. Terminal conditions and severe chronic pain are most common when this drastic step is the best outcome.
This resort recognizes the body cannot be wholly restored unless something is removed– surgery, lasers or chemo– to kill off the affliction in the sincere hopes that with its removal, wellness can be discovered. Patients can be supported naturopathically as they undergo these treatments and its continuance will contribute to prolonged wellness and self-care.
It is heartening to remember ways to empower our own health and to seek alternatives to the reliance on the current medical model.
Naturopathic doctors are in place to bring us back to these places of well-being with gentle support to heal ourselves. It is up to us to take the steps toward self-love that creates a resonance within for this healing to occur. There is no quick fix or magic pill, as all challenges are those which encourage our Ascension.