You get energy and nutrition from the food you eat. For eating well, good oral health is crucial. We know how painful it is to have tooth decay or cavities. It makes it difficult for the person to eat food, affecting his/her overall health. Hence, you must take good care of your dental health. So, how can one do that? The ancient health and wellness system of Ayurveda might have an answer. And to know some Ayurveda methods to take care of oral health, Onlymyhealth spoke to Dr. Siddhartha Pareek, Consultant Dental Surgeon at Art of Living's Sri Sri Ayurveda Hospital, Bangalore.
Ayurvedic Methods To Take Care Of Dental Health
“Ayurveda mentions about 65 oral diseases that can be prevented through some practices,” said Dr. Pareek. Let us have a look at some of them:
1. Tooth Brushing (Dantadhavna)
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It simply means brushing your teeth.
- In ancient times, people brushed their teeth with neem or babul sticks.
- However, presently you can do so with a toothbrush and a toothpaste/powder.
- Make it a habit to brush your teeth twice a day.
2. Tongue Scraping (Jivhalekhana)
Just like teeth, you must keep your tongue clean. You can do so by tongue scraping.
- Cleaning your tongue is crucial as if it is coated with bacteria, it can lead to oral and several systemic diseases.
- Hence, scrape your tongue right after you brush your teeth.
- Do the same after eating anything sticky such as chocolate, cake, etc.
- You can do so using a metal tongue cleaner made with stainless steel, brass, and copper. In ancient times, people even used gold and silver tongue cleaners, said Dr. Pareek.
- Avoid using plastic.
3. Mouth Gargling (Gandusha)
Ayurveda says you can gargle with oil, such as coconut, sesame, etc.
- For this, take 5 ml of oil and gargle for 2-3 minutes.
- You can do this practice twice a day.
- Mouth gargling is crucial for oral hygiene as it maintains the pH value of saliva, as it is not good for oral hygiene if it is too acidic or alkaline.
- Other than oils, you can also use a good mouthwash for Gandusha.
4. Avoid Sugar
A thousand times we have been told how sugar is harmful to health, which includes oral health. Hence, avoid sugar as much as possible. And, do not give sweetened milk to children right before bedtime.
Additional Ayurveda Tips To Manage Dental Health
Oral diseases and even cancer are highly prevalent in India. To prevent them, here are some tips to prevent oral problems:
- Avoid tobacco for both smoking and chewing. Even passive consumption is harmful to health.
- Brush your teeth twice a day. Avoid exerting excessive force and use a soft brush.
- Brush your teeth with the right technique. Many people brush horizontally, which causes toothbrush abrasion and sensitivity issues. Hence, use circular motions or the 45° technique, Dr. Pareek said.
- Avoid acidic foods and beverages.
- Drink tea and coffee in limited amounts to avoid acidic pH and teeth turning yellow.
- Do not eat or drink anything right after brushing. Have breakfast at least 20 minutes after brushing.
Remember, oral issues aren’t just that and can cause gastric problems, too. For example, gum infections can cause bacterial endocarditis, or brain and kidney-related problems explained Dr. Pareek. Oral diseases like pyorrhea can even cause heart ailments, the doctor explained. Hence, take out time to focus on your dental health, as sound oral health is crucial to have sound overall health.
(With inputs from Dr. Siddhartha Pareek, Consultant Dental Surgeon at Art of Living's Sri Sri Ayurveda Hospital, Bangalore)
Photo Credit: Freepik
