अर्कन्यग्रोधखदिरकरञ्जककुभादिजम्।
प्रातर्भुक्त्वा च मृद्वयं कषायकटुक्तिक्तकम् ।।2।।
कनीन्यग्रसमस्थौल्यं सुकूर्च द्वादशाङ्गुलम् ।
भक्षयेद्दन्तधवनं दन्तमांसान्यबाधयन् ॥३॥ A.h.2
Twigs useful for cleaning of the teeth:
Arka (Calotropis procera)
* Nyagrodha (Ficus bengalensis)
Khadira (Acacea catachu)
Karañja (Pongamia pinnata)
Kakubha (Terminalia arjuna) and other herbs such as-
Karavira (red) (Nerium indicum)
Sarja (Vateria indica) Irimeda (Acacia farnesiana)
* Apāmárga (Achyranthus aspera)
Malati (Jasminum grandiflorum)
Features of twigs useful for brushing:
Twigs useful for brushing should have- *12 inches of length with the circumference of a little finger.
Should be straight and devoid of nodes.
* Collected from sacred places.
* And also having katu, tikta and kaşāya rasas (i.e. pungent, bitter and astringent tastes) are good for brushing.
How & when to brush?
*One should brush the teeth early in the morning as well as immediately after having food without causing pain or injury to the gums.
Notes:
In Aşțänga Sangraha, the following procedure is given for brushing the tooth. viz. 'वाप्य त्रिवर्ग चितय.......... Vapya means kustha (Saussurea lappa), trivarga, tritaya means three groups of 3-3
drugs viz:
1. Trikațu (sunthi, marica, pippali)
2. Triphala (haritaki, āmalaki, vibhitaki)
3. Trijätaka (twak, elä, patri)
Take the fine powders of the above drugs and prepare paste by mixing honey. Then use the paste for brushing the tooth with the help of twigs by rubbing without causing injury to the gums. The lower row of teeth should be brushed initially and then the upper row is to be followed.
* Twigs having sweet, sour and salt tastes should not be used for brushing. Dry, hallow, putrefied twigs also should not be used.
Even though tongue scraping is not mentioned in Astänga Hrdaya, it is clearly stated in Astänga Sangraha, Caraka Samhitä and Suśruta Samhitä as under-
*After brushing teeth, scrape the tongue with the help of tongue cleaners, which should not be sharp edged and is curved, made of metals like gold, silver, copper etc.
Advantages of tongue scraping:
* Removes the dirt of the tongue, bad taste and foul smell of tongue, mouth and teeth. * Produces better taste, cleanliness and softness of the mouth.
Contraindications for cleaning teeth:
नाद्यादजीर्णवमथुश्वासकासज्वरार्दिती। तृष्णाऽऽस्यपाकहुनेत्रशिरः कर्णांमयी च तत् ।।4।। A.h.2
Patients suffering with the following diseases are contra-indicated for cleaning teeth:
Ajirņa (indigestion)
Ardita (facial paralysis)
Vamathu (vomitings)
Trsnä (thirst)
Swäsa (dyspnoea)
Asyapāka (stomatitis)
Kasa (cough)
Hrdaya, netra, siro, karņa roga
Jwara (fever)
(diseases of heart, eyes, head and ears).
