Abstract

KAVALA AND GANDOOSHA – A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO ORAL HEALTH

Dr. Gopesh Mangal and *Dr. Minu Yadav

Abstract

Oral health is a key indicator of overall health, wellbeing and quality of life. In present scenario, people all over the world are suffering from many oral cavity related problems. Some of them are dental cavities, gingivitis, periodontal diseases, halitosis, mouth ulcers etc. These are caused mainly due to poor oral hygiene and limited available techniques for improving oral hygiene. The Global Burden of Disease Study 2016 estimated that oral diseases affected at least 3.58 billion people worldwide, with caries of the permanent teeth being the most prevalent of all conditions assessed. In Ayurveda, to improve oral hygiene and prevent oral cavity related problems, techniques like Danta Dhavana (tooth brushing), Jihwa Nirlekhana (tongue cleaning), Kavala (gargling), Gandoosha (holding of medicated liquid in oral cavity) are included under Dinacharya (daily regimen). The concept of Kavala and Gandoosha is also mentioned separately to manage oral cavity related diseases. The difference between both the procedure is in the dosage and procedure of using the drug. It strengthens the muscles of oral cavity and nerves especially facial and glossopharyngeal cranial nerves. In the present review article, an attempt has been made to analyze the importance of Kavala and Gandoosha in preventing and curing oral cavity related diseases.

Keywords: Oral hygiene, Kavala, Gandoosha, Oil pooling.