Danta dhauti, one of the shatkarmas, consists of a series of simple practices that clean various organs and regions of the head. These practices are danta moola dhauti (cleaning of the teeth and gums), jihva moola dhauti (cleaning of the tongue), kapal randhra dhauti (washing the skull), karna dhauti (cleaning the ears), and chakshu dhauti (washing the eyes).
These practices, as well as jala neti, are concerned either directly or indirectly with the main senses of the body: hearing, seeing, smelling, and tasting. As such, they are important in enabling us to gain the best possible perception of the world around us. Remember, our sensory perception is dependent on the state of the associated organs. Therefore, the following practices, though perhaps seeming rather trivial and simple, are a valuable aid in being able to communicate with and relate to the outside world.
The ancient time yogis realized the necessity of maintaining the sensory organs in the optimum condition. This is clearly stated in the traditional text on practical yoga, the Hatha Yoga Samhita: "The cleaning of the teeth, mouth, tongue, ears, and the nasal cavities is the first duty of the yogic aspirant and should be performed every morning without fail."
DANTA MOOLA DHAUTI
The Sanskrit word 'danta' means 'teeth,' 'dhauh' means 'wash,' and 'moola' means 'root.' Therefore, this practice is concerned with cleaning the teeth and gums.
Utensils
The usual utensil used today is the toothbrush. Yet many authorities have strongly condemned its use without regular sterilization. It is pointed out that toothbrush bristles become a breeding ground for germs and bacteria. During daily use, these are transmitted into the mouth. Further, hard bristles tend to tear and damage the gums, especially when the cleaning action is very important. In India today, the traditional method of cleaning the teeth is by means of a twig from a neem tree. The twig is usually about fifteen centimeters long and half a centimeter thick, and it has good alkaline and astringent properties. The end of the stick is chewed until it forms bristles. These are then used to brush the teeth and gums. Both chewing the end of the stick and using it as a brush makes the teeth and gums strong and clean. After use, the stick is thrown away. This method is probably impractical for most people. If this is the case, then use a soft-bristled brush to clean the teeth and try to clean the brush as often as possible. The gums should be cleaned with the index finger, making a hard, rubbing motion over both the inner and outer gums. You should try to clean your teeth at least twice every day, and even better, after each meal.
Dentifrice
The important qualities of a dentifrice are that it is sufficiently abrasive to remove ingrained stains on the teeth and germicidal to destroy bacteria, as well as being able to wash the teeth and gums.
The ancient yogis always made their own tooth powder out of catechu, alum, myrobalan, and the ash of burnt coconut shells in the proportion 1:6:1:2. However, these substances are not readily available, and so most of us will have to stick with the toothpastes of today, the best of which are generally available at Ayurvedic pharmacies, health, and macrobiotic food stores. Additionally, some excellent dentifrices are wood ash or lemon juice, which can be applied on a brush, or the rind of lemon, which can be rubbed up and down on the teeth and gums. This is a particularly good method of removing tarnish from the teeth.
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