As we discussed earlier pyorrhea is among the most acute and dangerous ailments of teeth. It begins with accumulation of the layers or particles of substances chewed or gulped via mouth, some of which are deposited on the gums, some get stuck in between the teeth (especially the jaws) or at the root of the teeth near the gums. The chemicals released in the saliva during night also add to these. If not cleaned properly these would rotten inside and become host to a variety of bacteria and germs. Swelling, reddishness or pain of the gums is an alarming warning of this hazard. The layer of dirt spreads on the teeth, they appear yellowish. Mouth begins to stink. These are early symptoms of pyrrheatic ailment. Successively things go worse, the gums begin to bleed with a little pressure or jerk of the toothbrush. Unless one takes proper medicated care and treatments, at early stage there won’t be any hope; the gums would go septic with the pus inside them rotting the teeth roots too. The pus further grows and spreads with the bleeding gums risking its entry into the stomach and thus inviting other diseases.

After a certain stage there is no complete cure of pyorrhea except taking huge amounts of antibiotics and suffering the negative side effects along with uprooting of the denture. The Ayurvedic herbal therapies recommended in the scriptures and practiced, though at a limited scale, even today, provide effective cure of pyorrhea and several other dental and oral diseases. The remedies including – doing yagya with the herbal preparation consisting of the dry powder of following plant medicines in equal proportions:

Kachoor or kapurkachari (Zedoary), Sheetal Chini (Cubebs, Tailed pepper), Akarkara (Spanish Pollitory), Babool (Indian Gum Tree) bark-skin, Khadir or Khair (Black Catechu) bark-skin, Arimeda (Cassie Flower) bark-skin, Sirisha bark-skin (East lndian walnut), Neem (Margosa) bark-skin, Molashri (Surinam Medlar), Patang (Caesalpinia Sappan), Manjishtha, (Madder Root, India Madder), Kareel (Capparis aphylla Roth), root of Chameli (Common Jasmine), Ilayachi (Cardamom), Ratan Jota (Belly ache bush), Sugandhabala (Indian Valerian), Saarivan (Indian sarsaparilla), Agar (Aquilaria Agallocha), Daruhaldi (Indian Berberry), Padmakha (Mild Himalayan Cherry), Lavang (Cloves), Chandan (sandalwood), Tagar (Moonbeam), Jawasa (Persian Manna) Dalchini (Cinnamom bark), Dhaya Pushpa (wood fordia floribunda) Nagarmotha (Nutgrass), Mulahathi (Liquoric Root), Khas (Cuscus grass), Jatamansi (Spikenard), Aakmula (Mudar root), Lodhra (Symplocos bark), Pippali (Long Pepper), Rasaut (Extract of Indian Berberies), leafs of yellow Katsariyya (Spiny yellow-Barleria), Dhamasa (Fangonia arabica), Haldi (Turmeric), Ajamoda or Ajavain (Carraway, Ajova or Ani Seeds), Apamarg (Prickly-chaff Flower), Asan (Spinous kinotree), Kateri (Solanum indicum), Kayphala (Myrtalberry), Bada (Banyan) bark-skin, Majuphala (Gallnut), leafs of Menhadi (Henna), Supari (Beetal Nut), Kalimirch (Black Pepper), Javitri (Mace), Bayavidang (Barbreng), Punarnava (Hogweed Horse Purslene), Bacha (Sweet flag), Sauntha (Dry Ginger), and Triphala [mix of equal proportions of Anwala (Emblic Myrobalan), Baheda (Beleric Myrobalans, Beddanut) and Harad (Chabulic Myrobalans)].