World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research
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Volume 7, Issue 18, 500-508. Review Article ISSN 2277– 7105
REVIEW ARTICLE - PREVENTIVE DENTISTRY IN AYURVEDA
Dr. Satya Prahash Pathak*1 and Dr. Poonam Pandey2
1
Reader in Dept., of Shalakya Tantara, Veena Vadini Ayurved College and Hospital Bhopal
(M.P.)
2
Assistant Professor Dept., of Samhita & Siddhanta, Veena Vadini Ayurved College and
Hospital Bhopal (M.P.)
Article Received on
ABSTRACT
26 August 2018, Ayurvedic medicine was considered to be world‟s oldest medical
Revised on 17 Sept. 2018,
Accepted on 08 October 2018 system, which was originated in India dating back over thousands of
DOI: 10.20959/wjpr201818-13544 years. There was a long history regarding plants for the improvement
of dental health and oral hygiene. Ayurveda, the science of healthful
*Corresponding Author living, emphasizes equally on preventive and curative aspect of
Dr. Satya Prahash Pathak diseases. It also suggests that a wise person who wants to be healthy
Reader in Dept., of Shalakya
should take care of his body. The importance has been given to Dental
Tantara, Veena Vadini
hygiene to maintain health and beauty. The healthy teeth are very
Ayurved College and
Hospital Bhopal (M.P.). much necessary for healthy body. The glorious and beautiful smiles
flash only with glossy white and well arranged teeth. These are the
most important organ of mechanical digestion in body. Unless the teeth pulverize the food,
the enzymes cannot chemically digest it. Hence, painful teeth, absence of teeth or diseased
teeth and gums often lead to indigestion and insufficient utilization of the undigested food,
results in malnutrition.
KEYWORDS: Teeth, Mechanical digestion, Pulverize, Preventive.
INTRODUCTION
The medical system is truly Indian in origin and is developed in terms of “Ayurveda” which
combines the Sanskrit word “Ayur” (life) and “Veda” (Science of knowledge). The written
source of the ancient books known as “The Vedas.”.[1]
Vyasadeva wrote down the Vedas for the first time, which include a branch called as the
Ayurveda. Ayurveda originated over 5000 years ago.[1]
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The purpose of Ayurvedic Medicines was to coordinate and maintains the body, mind, and
spirit. This balance is believed to lead happiness and health and prevent illness.[1]
The Aim of ayurveda is
स्वस्थस्म स्वास््मयऺणभ आतुयस्म ववकाय प्रशभनं च।
To maintain the health of healthy person is the first aim of Ayurveda[1].
The Mukha (oral cavity), work as a mirror of the body by acting as gateway of the alimentary
canal and in that way it is considered to be one of the most important part of the body,
importance has been given to Dental hygiene to maintain health and beauty. The healthy teeth
are very much necessary for healthy body. If the teeth are not clean, healthy and strong they
cannot be capable to mastication and proper digestion and without proper digestion there
cannot be proper nutrition.
“PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE”
The goal of preventive dentistry is to have a healthy Oral cavity for a lifetime, by achieving
this goal, new and recurring diseases can be prevented.
What Is Preventive Dentistry?
Tooth is an associated tissue of bone. Pulp of the tooth corresponds to the bone marrow
(Majja).
Oral cavity is all the time moist and sticky because of the presence of Saliva. According to
ayurveda Kapha dosha naturally dominates in the oral cavity. Hence in any diseases of the
teeth, gums as well as mouth, it is important to use medicines having kapha samaka action.[7]
Animal never clean their teeth. Probably human also never cleaned his teeth in ancient time,
as his food contained lot of hard and rough substances, which had a natural cleansing action
on teeth. With civilization, human started using more and more cooked food and hence the
need to chew the food grew less and less. As a result, the third molars have become a
vestigial structure in most persons. The cooked food sticking to the dental crevice serves as a
good medium for bacterial growth. Therefore, it is essential to clean and brush the teeth in the
morning after getting up, after lunch and dinner or after eating anything for the prevention of
Danta Roga.[7]
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MATERIAL AND METHODAS
To evaluate the different uses of Ayurveda concept in dental health and oral hygiene.
To evaluate the preventive therapies are mentioned as a part of dincharya or treatment, for
the prevention of Danta roga.
Literatures on advance research on the dentistry including original articles and paper in
PubMed database were taken into the study for review.
NIDANA OF MUKHA ROGA
Only Acharya Vagbhata and Yogaratnakara have described the Samanya Nidanas of Mukha
Rogas. Acharya Kasyapa has mentioned the Samanya Nidanas of Mukha Rogas under the
heading of Pratisyaya Cikitsa. Acharya Madhava has also described the Nidanas of Mukha
rogas similarly as Yogratnakara, but he has used the Word “Matsyadi sevena”, instead of
“Masadi sevana”.[3,4] (Table - 1).
Table. 1. Nidana of Mukha Roga.
Aharjanya Nidana Viharajanya Nidana
Matsya Sevana Avak Sayya
Atimamsa Sevana Ati Parsva Sayana
Balamulaka Anuchita- Dhuma,
Masa Chhardana,
Dadhi Siravedha
Ksira Vega Vidharana
Iksu Snana after Guru Ahara,
Sukta Ahara Sevana in Ajirna
Phanita Avrta MukhaSayana
Guru, Madhura, Sita Danta Dhavana Dwesa
Ruksa ahara
Ati sitambu pana
In Ayurveda texts many types of preventive therapies are mentioned as a part of Dincharya or
Treatment, for the prevention of Danta roga.
(A) Dantadhavana (Cleaning the Teeth)
एकैक घषषमेद्दन्तं भद
ृ न
ु ा कूचषकेण तु ।
दन्तशोधनचूणेन दन्तभासान्मफाधमन ् ।।
Dantadhavana means of brushing, Manjana, Pratisaraņa, etc.
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METHODS
Each tooth should be brushed individually by Kurcaka, which is a soft tooth brush made from
medicated plants.[5]
The tooth brush should be rotated over the gums and the teeth in a vertical manner, from
below upwards in the lower jaw and from above downwards in the upper jaw.[5]
Datun (Tooth Brush)
तत्रादौ दं तऩवनं दादशांगुरभामतभ ् ।
कननष्ठिकऩयीणाहभज्
ृ वग्रंथथतभव्रणभ ् ।।
अमुग्भग्रंथथ मच्मावऩ प्रत्मग्रं शस्तबमू भजभ ् ।
अवेक्ष्मतुष च दोषं च यसं वीमष च मोजमेत ् ।।
कषामं भधयु ं नतक्तं कटुकं प्रातरुfRथत: ।
The stems should be 1 finger in breadth, 10-12 fingers in length and should have bitter,
pungent or astringent taste. Svadu, Amla, Lavana, Rasa should be avoided. The stems should
be healthy, soft, straight without any leaves and knots and picked from a tree growing in a
clean place and should not be dry or sticky or foul smelling.[5]
ननम्फश्च नतक्तके श्रेठि: कषामे खददयस्तथा ।
भधुयेको भधुये श्रेठि: कयञ्ज: कटुके तथा ।।
Acharya Sushurta explained most effected stems based on rasa like.[5]
Tikta Rasa – Nimba
Kashaya Rasa – Khadir
Madhur Rasa – Madhuka
Katu Rasa - karanja
Indicated Srems As A Tooth Brush (Dantapawan)
अकषन्मग्रोधखददयकयं जककुबाददकभ ् ।
प्राप्तबुक्त्वा च भद
ृ ग्रं कषामकटुनतक्तकभ ् ।।
बऺमेेॄदंतऩवनं दं तभांसान्मफाधमन ् ।
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A soft brush can be made by biting and chewing the tips of fresh stems of Arka, Nyagrodha,
Khadira, Karanja, Arjuna or katunimba, mastication of stems acts as a good exercise for the
teeth and gums.[3]
The following table gives the stems which should be used for brushing the teeth by people
having different constitutions.[7] (Table - 2).
Table No. 2: Stems for Different Constitutions.
Constitution Characteristic of gums Stem Indicated Taste
Vata Thin, atrophic, dry & rough Yastimadhu, khadira Sweet
Pitta Spongy, inflamed & red Nimba, arjuna Bitter
Kapha Hypertrophic & whitish Karanja, arka Pungent
Rakta – pitta Bleeding & spongy gums Khadira Astringent
Dantashodhan Churna (Tooth Paste / Power)
ऺौद्रव्मोषात्रत्रवगाषक्तं सतैरं सैन्धवेन च ।
चण
ू ेन तेजोवत्माश्च दं ताननत्मं ववशोधमेतˎ ।।
As general measure, one can use tooth powder consisting of equal quantity of Sunthi, Marica,
Pippali, Tvak, Lavanga, Tamalapatra, Triphala, Khadira and Saindhava which,should be used
as a paste after mixing it with Tila Taila . Before use, powder must be filtered through a fine
cloth.[5]
Selection According to Constitution: One can use powders of Triphala, Trijataka with
honey and Saindhava for person with Kapha and Pitta constitutions. For those with Kapha
constitution, Trikaţu, with honey and Saindhava can be used as tooth paste. Massaging the
gums daily with Triphala mixed with Tila Taila maintains them in healthy state.[7]
Contra Indicated Stems
नैवश्रेठभातकारयठटववबीतधवन्वजानˎ।
त्रफल्वफंबर
ु ननगण्
ुष डीमशग्रनु तल्वकनतंदक
ु ानˎ।।
कोववदायशभीऩीरुवऩप्ऩरें गद
ु गुग्गुरून।
ऩारयबद्रकभम्रीकाभोचकमो शाल्भरीं शणभˎ।।
स्वादम्ररवणम्शठु कभ सुवषयं ऩष्ू त्तवऩfच्छरभˎ।
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Slesmantaka, Tilva, Aristaka, Tinduka, Vibhitaka, Kovidara, Dhava, Sami, Bilva, Pilu,
Nirgundi, Pippali, Sigru, Ingudi, Paribhadra Above stems are contraindicated for
Dantadhavana.[3,6]
Dantadhavankala
Datuna should be done twice a day[1,6], followed by rinsing of mouth with hot water or cold
water according to constitution.
Advantage of Dantadhavana
तद्दोगन््मोऩदे हौ तु श्रेठभाणां चाऩकषषनत।
वैशधभन्नामबरुथचं सौभनस्मं कयोनत च।।
It cleans the oral cavity.
It keeps the oral cavity healthy by its taste. Taste neutralizes the
Kapha and helps to clear the viscid mucous secretions in the mouth.
It is good exercise for periodontal ligament by masticating the stem.
It removes food particles.
Perceives the taste better.
Cheap and readily available.
Prevents pocket formation.
Cleansing agent and gum masSa.ge action.
Leads to anchorage of teeth in bony socket and makes them immobilized.[1,5]
Contraindication of Dantadhavana
Jvara, Ajirna, Chardi, Shvasa, Trsna, Aruci, Mukhagataroga, Kasa, Netraroga etc.
In the above diseases, Dantadhavana is contraindicated which does not specifically mean that
oral care is to be avoided in these disorders. While going through the literatures minutely one
clearly finds different medicated formulas mentioned as a therapeutic measure and for oral
hygiene even in the alone contraindicated diseases.
Oral Care in Contraindication of Dantadhavana
Formulations like Pippalyadi Kalaka or Churna, and Tejohvajdi Churna etc. are used to keep
them in the mouth for a long time of use them for Dantamanjana or in the form a Kavala or
Gandusa.[8]
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Kavala / Gandusha (Gargling of Mouth)
Gandusa and Kavala both are types of local therapeutic measure for treatment of oral cavity
disorders. Both are auxiliary methods; that are used for rinsing to food debris and for other
therapeutic purpose. Detailed description of Gandusa and Kavala is as given below.
Kavala: Medicated fluids are kept in the mouth incompletely and asked to rotate in the
mouth for a specific time and then asked to spit it out.
As per Sarangadhara, Kalka (medicated bolus) drugs are used in Kavala and Liquids are used
in Gandusa.[6]
Gandusha: It is the process of holding any medicated liquid like Kvatha, Svarasa, Madhu,
Ghirta, Taila, Usnodaka etc. in the mouth to its full capacity for a specific time without any
movement inside and then asked to spit it out.[6]
Duration of Gandusha: In Gandusa, one should hold the fluid in the mouth, till it is felt that
the mouth is filled with kapha, nose and eyes start watering.[5,6]
Benefits of Kavala and Gandusha: A proper therapy of Gandusa and Kavala brings about
alleviation of disease, clears the mouth and stimulates the sense organs.[5]
Jihvanirlekhana: It is also a part of cleaning the oral cavity. Cleaning of tongue is known as
„Jihva Nirlekhana‟.[1,6]
Material for Jihvanirlekhana
A thin plate of gold, silver, copper or leaf or a thin wooden plate may be used as a tongue
cleaner.
It should be soft and smooth with rounded edges. Its length should be ten fingers.
Advantages of Jihvanirlekhana
It helps to get rid of waste products of food.
It helps to reduce foul smell of the mouth.
It improves taste sensation.[1,6]
Nasya: Tila oil medicated with various medicines is used as nasal drops in different diseases
of gums and teeth. These nasal drops act as reflex soothing agents for the nerves irritated by
the diseased gums and teeth.[1,6]
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Danta Rasayana
ददने ददने कृठण नतरप्रकंु चं सभश्नतां शीतजरानऩ
ु ानभˎ।
ऩोष: शयीयस्मबवत्मनल्ऩो दृढीबवन्त्माभयणाच्म दं ता:।।
Chewing of 2-4 gms of black sesame seeds daily in the morning or sugarcane acts as tonic for
the teeth. The dental and gingival tonics are as follows.
Bakul, Yastimadhu, Tila, Kadamba, Haritaki, Nyagrodha, Sankhabhasma, Arjuna, khadira,
Nimba, etc.[7]
Some important yoga’s to Prevents the dental diseases and maintain oral hygiene
Dashan sanskar choorana pratisarna
Equal quantity of Sunthi, Marica, Pippali, Tvak, Lavanga, Tamalapatra, Triphala, Khadira
and Saindhava which,should be used as a toothpaste after mixing it with Tila Taila.
Pringavadi lepa pratisarna
Raktastambhaka choorna gandusha.
Guda – agni karma in krimidanta
Kantkari seeds dhoopna in krimidanta
laksha choorna + madhu pratisarna in dantasarkara.[7]
Pathya - Trindhanya, Yava, Mudaga, Kulattha, Jangal mansarasa, Karavellaka, Patola,
Kapura Jala, Ushnodaka, Tambula, Katu, Tikta Dravyas.[4]
Apthya
परान्मम्रानन शीताम्फु रूऺान्नभ दं तधावनभˎ
तथाsनतककदिनं बक्ष्मं दं तयोगी वववजषमेतˎ
Sour fruits and food items (like curd, lemon, tamarind etc), cold water, dry and hard food
items, These sour dietary items expose the teeth to various acids, which might dissolve the
enamel of the teeth making them prone to various dental disorders.[4]
CONCLUSION
The Healthy Status of the Tooth can effectively managed with Nidana parivarjana and regular
practice of Dinacharya. Maintaining proper oral hygiene helps in preventing dental health and
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other diseases of oral cavity. Early management of dental pathology helps in saving the teeth
and its associated structures.
The use of herbal medicine has been successfully applied in dentistry as antiseptic,
antioxidants, and analgesic. The natural phytochemicals play an alternative role in healing of
oral infections and thereby improving immunity. However, well controlled clinical trials are
required to validate the use of these traditional therapeutics strategies in the dental field.
REFERENCES
1. Vd. Harishchandra Singh kushvaha, the charak samhita, ayurveda dipika‟s ayusi, Hindi
commentary 1st part, first edition, chaukhambha orientalia, Sutrasthana, 2005; 5-14,
76-89.
2. Ambikadatt Shastri, Shusruta samhita, purvardh, Reprint, Chaukhambha Sanskrit
Sansthan, Varanasi, 2nd volume, Nidana sthana, 2007; 294-303.
3. Sri lalchandra vaidya, Ashtanga Hridayam with the commentaries „Sarvangasundara‟ of
Arunadatta, Reprint, Motilal banarasidas publication delhi, 1 st volume, 2008; 690-708.
4. Vaidya Laksmipati Sastri, Yogratnakara with „Vidyotini‟ Hindi Commentary, Nityavidhi,
99-101, 508.
5. Ambikadatt Shastri, Shusruta samhita, purvardh, Reprint, Chaukhambha Sanskrit
Sansthan, Varanasi, 2nd volume, Chikitsa sthana, 2007; 100-106.
6. Dr. Ravi Dutt Tripathi, Astanga samgraha, „Saroj‟ Hindi Commentary, Chaukhambha
Orientalia, Sutrasthana, 38-42.
7. Dr. V. B. Athavale, Dentistry in Ayurveda (Danta - Shastra), Chaukhambha Sanskrit
Pratishthan, Delhi, 50-53.
8. Vd. Harishchandra Singh kushvaha, the charak samhita, ayurveda dipika‟s ayusi, Hindi
commentary 1st part, first edition, chaukhambha orientalia, Chikitsa Sthana, 2005;
187-05.
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