Danta Veshta – Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, Modern Correlation

By Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) & Dr Manasa, B.A.M.S

Danta Veshta is one of the diseases afflicting the gums and alveolar processes (dantamula gata roga). This disease occurs due to vitiated blood.

It is characterized by –

• Discharge of pus and bleeding from the gums
• Loosening of teeth
• Shaking of teeth
  Read – Diseases Due To Pathological Bone Tissue – Asthi Pradoshaja Rogas

Treatment

Treatment of of Danta Veshta gum disorder:
Raktamokshana – Bloodletting is the main treatment for danta veshta because it is caused by vitiated blood.

Pratisarana – Application of medicinal pastes is beneficial after bloodletting. Powder of the below mentioned herbs mixed with honey shall be used for this purpose –

• Lodhra – Symplocos racemosa
• Patranga – Caesalpinia sappan
• Licorice
• Laksha – Laccifer lacca

Rakta-pitta Nibarhana Karya – All measures which can pacify vitiated blood and pitta shall be administered. This is because pitta and blood are closely related entities, blood being one of the chief sites of pitta. They tend to mutually contaminate each other and when this happens there is severe inflammation. Vitiated blood or pitta also has independent capacity to cause inflammation.

Kakolyadi Ksheera-Ghrta Nasya – Nasal medication / errhine with ghee extracted from the milk prepared with Kakolyadi group of herbs is beneficial.

Shirovirechana – Head purging errhines should be used.

Nasya – nasal medication is ideal therapy in treating danta veshta.

Snigdha Bhojana – unctuous foods should be given to the patient.

Gandusha – Gargles should be done with

• Kshiri Vriksha Kashaya – decoction prepared from barks of latex yielding trees mixed with honey, ghee and sugar. These will act as astringents and anti-septic and also will soothe the gums.
• Sahacharadi Taila
• Dashamula taila or ghrta – with or without honey

Bakula Charvana – To make strong and stabilize the shaking teeth, the patient should be made to chew the bark of Bakula – Mimusops elengi.

Bhadramustadi Vati – Tablets are prepared by grinding the equal portions of the powders of the below mentioned herbs in urine of cow –

• Bhadramusta – Cyperus rotundus
• Haritaki – Terminalia chebula
• Trikatu – Piper longum, Piper nigrum and Zingiber officinale
• Vidanga – Embelia ribes
• Leaves of neem

The tablets shall be dried in shade. The patient suffering from danta veshta, whose teeth is shaking and unstable should keep these tablets in the mouth and sleep. After using this for many days continuously, the teeth would get strong and stable.

Jirakadhya Churna Pratisarana – Powder of the below mentioned herbs shall be rubbed on the gums and teeth with the help of fingers –

• Cumin seeds
• Rock salt
• Haritaki – Terminalia chebula
• Shalmali Kantaka – thorns of Bombax ceiba

This will help in curing wounds of gums, tear, and pain, swelling and bleeding from gums and beneficial for strengthening shaking teeth.
Read – Sensitive Teeth – Causes, Symptoms, Ayurvedic Treatment

Kandhya Churna – Powder of the below mentioned should be rubbed against swollen gums and shaky teeth –

• Kana – Piper longum
• Rock salt
• Powder of cumin seeds

Vajradanta Manjana – Brushing of teeth and gums should be done with powder of the below mentioned herbs –

• Triphala – Terminalia chebula, Terminalia bellirica and Emblica officinalis
• Trikatu – Piper longum, Piper nigrum and Zingiber officinale
• Tutiya – Suranjan – Colchium luteum
• Black salt
• Patranga – Caesalpinia sappan
• Mayaphala / Majuphala – Quercus infectoria

This powder makes the teeth as strong as a diamond.
Read – Ayurvedic Remedies and Treatment for Dental Plaque And Tartar

Shweta Manjana – powder of the below mentioned should be used for brushing the teeth and rubbing against gums –

• Shuddha Khatika – calcium carbonate
• Rock salt
• Camphor
• Purified alum
• Black pepper

Arogyavardhini – Tab Arogyavardhini should be administered with water or cow milk.

Taila – Irimedadi Taila, Khadiradi Taila or Mustard oil should be applied and rubbed over the gums. Following this, the mouth should be rinsed with warm water.

Kurcha – brush – One end of the branches of either of Babul – Vachellia nilotica, Jambu – Syzygium cumini or Bakula – Mimusops elengi should be crushed and made into a brush. This should be used for brushing the teeth. The brush shall be prepared daily with any one of the above said branches and disposed after brushing.
Read – Danta Dhauti: Types, Benefits, Right Method

Triphaladi Danta Dhavana – Powder of the below mentioned should be mixed with small quantity of Sphatika – Alum and stored in air tight glass container –

• Triphala – Terminalia chebula, Terminalia bellirica and Emblica officinalis
• Trikatu – Piper longum, Piper nigrum and Zingiber officinale
• Cinnamom
• Akarakarabha – Anacyclus pyrethrum
• Vacha – Acorus calamus
• Kushta – Saussurea lappa
• Mocharasa – Bombax malabaricum
• Mayaphala – Quercus infectoria
• Dhataki Pushpa – flowers of Woodfordia fruticosa
• Kasisa – Green vitriol
• Patanga – Caesalpinia sappan
• Sangajrahat
• Samudraphena – Cuttlefish bone
• Rock salt

This powder should be used for rubbing and brushing the teeth and afflicted gums.
Read – Teeth Eruption In Babies – Common Problems, Ayurvedic Remedies

Sanskrit Verses

Modern correlation

This disease, based on its symptoms is compared to Pyorrhoea alveolaris, though foul smell in the mouth, white coat over the tongue and accumulation of tartar at the root of the teeth are also mentioned as the symptoms in the modern version.

Click to Consult Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ayu)