When The Dentist Couldn't Find Anything

There is a molar in my mouth..

that regularly reminds me of its presence. Sometimes when I eat a kiwi and a seed lands in exactly the wrong spot in the groove of the molar, a sharp, nerve-wracking sensation shoots through my mouth. And for the rest of the day, chewing with that molar is unpleasant, to say the least.

It comes and goes. The dentist couldn’t find anything, not even on the X-ray. She said, ‘It’s possible that this tooth has microscopic cracks from the fillings that could be causing sensitivity. We could reconstruct the tooth if it’s really bothering you.’
Yes, we could, I thought, but first I’ll get out my Ayurveda toolbox.

There were patterns to be seen. After travelling, busy periods and when it was really cold, I felt it again. And recently, with all the rain and humidity here (and fortunately everything is fine with all the water and the storm), it actually got better.

And then it clicked...

This is vata.
In Ayurveda, teeth are related to bone tissue, and bone tissue has everything to do with vata – dryness, cold, movement. And vata is also your nervous system. Travelling, stress and cold all make vata worse. Rain and humidity are the opposite of vata.

That inspired me to start doing gandusha. In the morning, after brushing my teeth and scraping my tongue, I hold warm sesame oil in my mouth. No gargling (that’s called kavala and involves too much movement, which is vata). Just hold it still for about 10 minutes and then spit it out.
It gives such a nice calming feeling. Not only in my mouth, but also in my head. As if everything that was tense can let go again, as if you are stepping into a warm bath.
My molar is also doing well and bothering me much less.

I also pay more attention to my diet.

Fewer chickpeas, less raw vegetables, fewer bitter leafy vegetables and cabbage. No cold drinks with fizz or ice. All things that aggravate vata.
The dentist was right, there was nothing to be found on the X-ray, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing that can be done about it.
It’s a puzzle, and the trick is to find what the imbalance is and what its opposite is. And often that is surprisingly simple and effective.
That’s the beauty of Ayurveda.

much love,
Rianne