Ayurvedic Oral Health Practices in Preventive Dentistry: Triphala Mouthrinse, Oil Pulling and Community Gingivitis Care

Abstract

Preventive dentistry increasingly encounters patient interest in Ayurvedic oral practices such as Triphala mouthrinse, herbal dentifrices, tongue cleaning, Kavala, Gandusha, and oil pulling. While systematic reviews suggest possible plaque and gingivitis benefits from selected herbal agents, these practices should supplement rather than replace brushing with fluoride toothpaste, interdental cleaning, periodontal assessment, and dental treatment. This paper presents a community gingivitis-care model for Ayurveda-informed oral health promotion. Classical oral hygiene concepts were synthesized with systematic reviews of Triphala mouthrinse, Ayurvedic plaque-control agents, and oil pulling. A synthetic school-adult community audit of 96 participants illustrates plaque-control education, mouthrinse adherence, oil-pulling tolerance, and dental referral triggers. The paper highlights dosing clarity, allergy screening, aspiration caution, oral lesion assessment, and avoidance of exaggerated claims. It concludes that Ayurvedic oral practices can be responsibly included in preventive dentistry when they are documented as adjuncts, when dental red flags prompt referral, and when patient education remains anchored in conventional oral hygiene standards.

KEYWORDS: Triphala mouthrinse; oil pulling; Ayurvedic dentistry; gingivitis; Gandusha; community oral health