ORAL HYGIENE IN AYURVEDA: A FORGOTTEN BOTANICAL SCIENCE

The Botanical Brilliance:

The term in ancient Ayurvedic literature refers not only to “good chewing sticks” but also to the higher act of engaging in oral care with consciousness, intention, and alignment with one’s prakruti (constitution) and vikruti (imbalance). According to classical texts like Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita, and later commentaries like Bhavaprakasha, different twigs were recommended for specific individuals based on their dosha types Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. Even herbal oil pulling with these Ayurvedic herbs or gargling with them can help a great deal to protect and prevent oral diseases, e.g., neem oil pulling or gargling with turmeric and salt, etc.

Sacred Ayurvedic Plants for Oral Hygiene Needs:

Here is the list of most revered trees as per Ayurveda for Oral Hygiene:

• • Ficus religiosa (Ashvattha): The Indian Fig tree, sacred in spiritual traditions and useful in balancing Pitta.
  • Nauclea cadamba (Kadamba): Fragrant and cooling, often used for refreshing breath and balancing Kapha.
  • Pongamia glabra (Karanja): Bitter and astringent, helpful for Kapha excess and microbial cleansing.
  • Acacia arabica (Bavala, Babool): Universally accepted for its strong astringent and antimicrobial action, ideal for widespread use across doshas and oral hygiene.
  • Azadirachta indica (Neem): Contains potent antibacterial, antifungal, and bitter properties. Often used to eliminate microorganisms in the body. Suitable for inflammatory gum conditions by gargling with neem water.
  • Mimusops elengi (Bakul): Used for strengthening gums and helps improve the breath.
  • Salvadora persica (Peelu): It is also known as the “toothbrush tree” in Unani and Islamic medicine. Due to its antimicrobial, antifungal, and antiviral properties, it is effectively used in oral hygiene. 
  • Ziziphus jujuba (Ber): Soothing and beneficial for Vata body type individuals.  Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, it is used effectively to reduce the common side effect of cancer treatment – oral mucositis.
  • Terminalia arjuna (Arjun): It is known for its astringency and is a great cleanser for plaque. Its bark or bark powder is used in managing periodontal diseases.
  • Ficus benghalensis (Vad): Its sap, bark, and aerial roots strengthen gums and tooth roots. The sap can be applied to reduce toothaches.
  • Capparis zeylanica (Asadhua): Lesser known but referenced in regional oral care formulations to reduce the inflammation in gum diseases like gingivitis.
  • Achyranthes aspera (Apamarga): Used for tongue scraping and gum issues. It is used in tooth powders, mouthwashes, and treating periodontitis.

As per oral hygiene needs, a person can choose a twig from the above-mentioned trees. These twigs can ideally be chewed early in the morning to brush the teeth, which serve not just as a physical cleanser but also as a doshic balancer, purifying the breath, and aligning energy.

Tooth Powders: Ayurvedic Formulation, Family Tradition:

Beyond twigs, ancient texts detailed regulations for Dantamanjana (tooth powders), often combining herbs like Triphala, Lavanga (clove), Haridra (turmeric), Mint, Saindhav (rock salt), and camphor in specific proportions. The Ayurvedic physicians prescribed these formulations based on individual oral conditions and needs: receding gums, ulcers, foul breath, or dental pain.

I remember my parents preparing Ayurvedic tooth powder in our Ayurvedic College in Mumbai during my childhood. It was not merely for personal use but also for sharing in the community and with our clients. There was pride in preparing something so rooted in Ayurvedic wisdom, and so healing in nature.

The Vanishing Heritage:

Until the 1960s, such knowledge was taught in depth at Prabhuram Ayurvedic College, an institution that honored indigenous science with thoroughness and precision. Botany was not just theoretical but loved by students, who learned to identify, collect, prepare, and prescribe these oral care botanicals. Post-independence from the British Raj, educational policies, medical colonialism, and the rise of Western dental practices led to the gradual disappearance of this profound oral care system.

One wonders how we allow it to vanish so silently?

The modern toothbrush and commercial toothpaste are replete with artificial sweeteners, surfactants, and plastic packaging, replaced by sustainable, individualized Ayurvedic practices. 

In the End, Revival is Not Just Necessary; it is urgent.

We must revisit it as both a concept and a practice. It is more than twigs and powders. It is about reuniting with nature’s pharmacy and living in synchrony with one’s constitution. This revival is possible through education, home practice, and conscious product development based on original formulations.

||मुखात्महृदयग्निमार्गः || meaning mouth is one of the pathways to the soul, heart, and digestive fire.

Let us remember that Oral health is the gateway to systemic health. Ayurveda knew this long before any modern microbiome research. Reinstating this legacy will be a gift not just to our mouths, but to the very soul of our healthcare.

Om Shanti, Om Shanti, Om Shanti!!! Prayers for Mother Earth and Mother Nature!

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