Mukha
Shuddhi ( Oral Care ) Month May 2004
All
verbal expressions are conveyed by us with our mouth. Teeth which
are like pearls, which are clean & healthy, gums that are
pink, a clean tongue, a fresh breath, not only make a person feel
confident to speak, he also portrays a good personality, also
displays a good personal health. Oral infections can be the root
cause to many health ailments. Likewise a bad health can reflect
in an unhealthy state of the mouth & body. These facts emphasize
the need to good oral hygiene & its care.
In this article we wish to share with you some references found
in the ancient Ayurvedic texts.
Dantadhavana or brushing the teeth should be done twice a day.
Herbs of Tikta (bitter) or/and Kashaya (astringent) flavors should
be considered. Madhur or sweet herbal juices or products are a
definite no-no. The bitter juices cleanse the mouth, help control
decay, while astringent juices help to strengthen the gums. While
brushing the teeth, care should be taken not to hurt the gums,
cheek, tongue nor rub too hard to spoil the teeth's texture.
Use warm water to rinse the mouth. In hot weather, use cool water.
Gums need to be massaged with honey or Yeshtimadhutaila or other
herbal extracts. Honey although sweet, is astringent, heals wounds,
does not allow the Kapha dosha to alleviate, which may cause stickiness,
and Yeshtimadhutaila, which strengthens the gums.
The tongue also needs to be cleaned daily. The texts suggest the
use of gold or silver tongue cleaning strips, but as they are
farfetched in today's times, one can opt for steel or plastic.
The strips should be chosen with care, they should be smooth with
clear edges. People with diseases like Jeevha roga (wounds on
the tongue), Mukhapaka (oral ulcers) etc., who may not be able
to perform the dantadhavana, may do the Gandush (gargling) procedure.
Gandush (gargling) is done with medicinal decoctions or herbal
extracts. It helps to strengthen the gums, cleanse the teeth,
maintain the balance of the Kapha dosha, heal wounds on the tongue,
gums and the cheek, gets rid of foul smell, cleanse the tongue
etc. In this procedure, the decoction is held in the mouth and
rinsed.
Regular oral care gives an excellent oral health.
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