Ayurvedic dental care - Old style datun

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The beauty of the face is in smile. The sparkle in the eyes

contributes 50%. The smile becomes more charismatic if it exposes

well shaped sparkling teeth held by bright pink gums.

 

Keeping the dental health is not easy. If you visit a dentist's

clinic, you will see many young and teenagers there. The ancestors

just three generations ago did not face dental health problem almost

till death. You will witness this truth if you visit a village

untouched by the fast life of metro and observe the farmers,

labourers and those doing some hard work for livelihood. Author met

people in eighties with most of hair black and teeth intact. The

ancestors used datun to clean the teeth daily, not fluoride tooth

paste or mouth refreshening gel. This is healthy lifestyle and you

can see it in Gujarat even today. Our Railway minister Mr Laluprasad

Yadav is so much a fan of simple village lifestyle, that he

introduced buttermilk sold in earthen pots in Indian railways. He

also proposed selling datun for teeth cleaning:

http://www.hinduonnet.com/2004/09/27/stories/2004092704451100.htm

 

Datun is fresh twig of a medicinal tree used as tooth brush. The

benefits of using datun has been described in ayurveda. Ayurveda

prescribes datun from a number of trees. Use of datun makes the teeth

strong, eliminates mouth odor. The sticky dirty deposits in the mouth

and sticky mucous in the throat gets cleared, making teeth shiny.

 

Modern science gave us tooth brush and pastes containing various

chemicals to eliminate mouth odor, germs etc. We have very little

time in our daily lifestyle to clean the teeth properly. Teeth do not

get any exercise nor any rejuvenating vitamins through tooth paste.

Nature has given us many herbs and accordingly datun from various

plants was in use throughout India.

 

Amongst germ killer properties, neem is the leading herb having

bitter taste. Khair (Acacia catechu) has astringent taste while Mahua

(Madhuca indica) tree offers sweet taste. In pungent taste, Karanj

(Pongamia pinnata) is considered best for datun. Just as each

individual is prescribed patient-specific herbs, datun also depends

on prakruti of the patient. Bitter neem datun is best for children

suffering from parasites.

 

Datun should be cut in green state and fresh from the tree. It gives

more benefits to the teeth and works as a more efficient tooth-brush.

While synthetic tooth-brush often causes bleeding from gums, datun is

soft on gums. Let us see how each tree helps us with its healing

properties.

 

Neem datun safeguards teeth and their roots from developing carries.

It protects teeth from all kinds of germs reaching nerves in the

roots. The germs are killed. Neem is a most potent organic pesticide

used in Indian farming.

 

Karanj datun protescts the user from Pyorrhea or periodontitis. Khair

and babool datun are effective to eliminate mouth odor, remove sticky

plaques, heal mouth ulcers. It is especially recommended for

classical singers. Tannic acid in babul datun tightens the gums,

which effectively preventing the entry of germs to the roots of the

teeth.

 

While using datun, first chew the end of datun a little and then

brush it on teeth. Cut the twig axially in the end to use as a tongue

cleaner. This cleans the taste buds, boosts the secretion of saliva,

thus aiding digestion of carbohydrates too.

 

To clean the mouth fully, Manusmruti, ancient scripture, recommends

that we should gargle the mouth at least four times after emptying

bladder, eight times after bowel movement, twelve times after meals

and sixteen times after cleaning teeth with datun, so that mouth,

teeth, tongue are effectively cleaned. Author has often written that

ayurveda is not just three samhitas, which is again reitereated here.

 

Nature gave us an enamel coating for protection of teeth. Due to the

excess sugars/acids in our diet, lack of adequate exercise to the

teeth, acids generated by certain protein-rich foods, the enamel gets

damaged, removed. This causes holes, entry of germs and decay of

dental strength. The enamel is made from minerals such as calcium

magnesium etc. Teeth need exercises for their structural strength.

The teeth are first victims to loss of calcium after

menopause/andropause and become brittle. They need to be protected

from sharp hard foods.

 

Giving a genetle massage on gums (using index finger) after mouth

wash in the morining strengthens them. Pounding the teeth of upper

and lower jawbone on each other 10-15 times two to three times a day

also makes gums strong.

 

When one uses datun, the juices of tender bark released by action of

chewing gives a number of benefits. Fresh juices from tender twigs

provide vitamins and minerals to strengthen the teeth, building fresh

enamel.

 

Just as datun of one tree is not suitable for all, the type of datun

should be changed according to season, region and prakruti. Thus

patients suffering from blood disorders may use datun from Neem and

banyan tree. For tooth pain, one should use datun from Arka(Indian

madar) or Chameli (Chamomilla recutita )

tree. For stomach problems datun from Mahua tree is best. Use

Licorice in case Mahua not available. For those suffering from

Pyorrhea, they can use datun from Babul or Khair tree. If suffering

from dyscentry, IBS use datun obtained from Borseli(Commiphera

wightii). Heart patients will get benifitted by using datun from

Arjuna(Terminalia arjuna) tree. Wounds, abcesse, cysts in gums can be

healed by using datun from Banyan or peepal tree. For women

suffering from Leucorrhoea, menorrhagia, Adhedo(Achyranthus aspera)

datun is recommended. Women following fasting during Navarathri

festival should not use Neem datun.

 

One should minimize the foods which endanger health of teeth. Cold

beverages, tea, coffee, beetle nut, chocolate, cakes, soft floor

items, sugary sweets should be minimized. It is better to prevent

teeth problems rather than treat them.

 

For those who cant obtain fresh twigs of the medicinal trees,

ayurveda has a numbet of receipes to make tooth powders from herbs

and household substances. Author gives one receipe here:

 

Coal powder 10 parts (by weight), Better if coal is made from babul

bark.

Camphor 1 part

Rock salt 2 parts

Anhydrous alum 1 part

Eucalyptus oil 1 part

 

Pound together all solids and mix in oil at the end. Put in glass jar

and fit the cap tightly. Use about a tsp of powder, apply to the

teeth and gums with index finger.

 

For those who dislike black tooth powder, a white colored powder can

also be made. Ready hearbal tooth powders are also available in

Indian markets, in red color too. e.g. Vajradanti brand from Vicco

Laboratories. With metro culture, TV adds, datun is forgotten and use

of tooth brush with paste is being taught to children. But parents,

are you aware of fluoride damage to teeth as well as general health?

 

Dr Bhate