7 Amazing Ayurvedic Home Remedies For Cavity and Tooth Decay:- Strong, healthy teeth are a highly important part of our bodies and an essential element of good health. Ayurveda considers chewing to be very important, as correctly chewing food leads to optimal digestion. Ayurvedic philosophy states that one should “eat your liquids and drink your solids”, and this would be impossible without strong and healthy teeth. It is totally true that the proper functioning of teeth makes the function of intestines in food digestion much easier. Teeth are vital to help us savor the taste of various foods.

Cavities happen due to tooth decay, which is the destruction of tooth structure. Tooth decay can affect both the outer coating and inner layer of the tooth. So the enamel and the dentin both are affected. This usually occurs due to high intake of processed sugar and starch rich foods such as breads, cereals, cakes, cookies, candy and baked goods. Additionally milk, milk based products (ice cream), pop are also responsible for this condition.

Harmful bacteria’s that live in the mouth starts to eat these foods, and turn them into acids, when these food debris are left on the teeth. The acid combined with saliva forms plaque, which clings to the teeth. Plaques dissolve the enamel surface of the teeth, creating holes in the teeth called cavities.

Although brushing teeth and flossing on a daily basis are how we normally take care of our teeth, it can be challenging to avoid common teeth issues. Most people develop tooth-related issues from an early age, and one of the core reasons for this is due to improper dietary habits. From excessive sugar consumption to consuming acidic, extremely hot or extremely cold items, and unhealthy foods lay the foundation for teeth-related issues.

While eating unhealthy yet delicious foods is rather difficult to avoid, try to limit eating these types of foods on a regular basis. Maintaining proper hygiene and cleansing of the teeth is paramount in order to prevent any potential disease that can affect the teeth. Ayurveda recommends certain easy-to-do yet tremendously effective home remedies for tooth decay and cavities that will keep your teeth in excellent health.

Causes of Tooth Decay:

1) High intake of sugary, starchy and processed foods in your diet. High fructose corn syrup in processed food will also hurt the teeth.

2) Not cleaning the mouth properly after eating. Hence bacteria present in the mouth converting the sugar into acids.

3) The acid from the sugar combines with food debris and forms plaque.

4) Plaques can easily lead cavities and tooth decay.

Chewing herbal sticks (stems/branches of bitter or astringent plants), oil pulling, salt water rinsing, gum massage and using herbs/berries that strengthens gum tissues and stabilizes collagen, can help treat oral cavity, plaques and gum infections.

These simple and easy strategies help prevent or heal oral health conditions.

Ayurvedic Practices to Relieve Oral Cavity

1) Herbal Sticks

The most popular way to combat tooth decay and keep your oral health intact is by chewing on fresh stem from neem tree. The stems should be small, soft and without the leaves.  Neem is extremely preferable for Pitta and Kapha Dosha and Licorice is good for Vata Dosha. Protect your teeth from plaques, by chewing these herbal stems that has anti-bacterial effect.

Miswaak or twik from Salvadora Persica (arak/peelu tree) due to its high anti-microbial properties is also popular as a herbal chewing stick in many parts of the world. To clean teeth, neem, licorice or miswaak can be used as a tooth brush. Chew one end of the herbal stems to make feel like a brush.

Use a tooth brush that has a gentle bristle if you are still not comfortable using a herbal stick. Do not hurt your teeth by vigorous brushing. Remember your teeth are “alive”.

2) Herbal Tooth Powder

Ditching the commercial toothpaste would be a wise choice to make. There are many recipes for making your own home made tooth paste or tooth powders. You can make your own tooth powder made from neem powder and salt. Toothpastes from neem or neem extract are made by many holistic tooth paste companies.

3) Oil Pulling

Oil pulling is a practice that involves swishing oil in the mouth oral and systemic health benefits. To reduce cavity, bleeding gums, bad breath, dryness of throat, cracked lips, whitening teeth and for strengthening teeth, gums and the jaw, oil pulling has been extensively used as a Indian folk remedy.

Oils such as sunflower, sesame seed and coconut are very popular however sesame seed oil is the best of all the seed crop for oral health.

4) Gum Massage

Are you worried about bleeding gums? Then, you must try out this home remedy. Mix 2 teaspoon of pure mustard seed oil with ¼ teaspoon of rock or sea salt and massage gums gently. Your teeth will be in excellent condition and shiny! This formula can combat pyorrhea, swollen gums, toothache, and bleeding gums as it strengthens the gums and kills the germs.

You can also try using turmeric powder (1/4 teaspoon) instead of salt or add turmeric with salt and mustard seed. For toothache, dental caries, and pain in teeth while eating chilled or hot food items, as well as for bleeding gums, turmeric with mustard oil is beneficial.

5) Gargle With Salt

Filling the mouth with comfortable amount of fluid so that you can close your mouth and create a motion by a stream of air from the lungs is gargling. Take half a teaspoon of rock salt or sea salt in a cup of warm water and gargle to prevent tooth decay.

You can even add fennel or peppermint essential oil to your salt water before gargling.

6) Clove Oil

Clove is one of the most important ingredients to in treating dental or oral conditions. It is used in many toothpastes, mouthwashes, and oral care medications. It is a flower bud of a evergreen tree that has numerous medicinal properties. Clove is rich in minerals such as calcium, hydrochloric acid, iron, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, and vitamin A, vitamin C and a powerful compound called ‘eugenol.’

The anti microbial and anti-septic properties of clove oil makes it perfect for treating cavities, bleeding gum, bad breath, tooth ache, sore gum, and mouth ulcers.

Pour few drops of diluted clove oil with sesame seed oil on a cotton ball and put at the end of the tooth which has the cavity. Do this every night before going to bed.

Keeping a whole clove under the tongue after eating is also beneficial. Keep it under the tongue, by chewing lightly on the clove. This is a breath freshener and will keep the teeth and gum strong.

7) Herbal Remedies

Amla or the Indian goose berry is a well known herb in Ayurveda to reduce cavity and plaque. It has the ability to rebuild the oral health as it supports the healing and development of the connective tissues. For long term benefit to the teeth and gum, you can take one to two grams of dried Amla powder as a decoction or capsule.

Apart from strengthening your gum tissues, the collagen can be stabilized by Bilberry and Hawthorn berries. Note that all 3 berries are rich in Vitamin C.

Teeth are considered part of Asthi dhatu or bone tissues in Ayurveda. Herbs taken internally to strengthen bone, like the skeleton and the joints, are good for long-term health of the teeth. Some other herbs that strengthen the bones are yellow dock root, alfalfa leaf, nettle leaf, oatstraw, horsetail, cinnamon bark, and turmeric root.

SUPRAJA