Periodontitis is defined as an inflammatory disease of supporting tissues of teeth caused by group of microorganisms, resulting in progressive destruction of periodontal ligament and alveolar bone with periodontal pocket formation, gingival recession or both. It is prevalent in about 20-50% of global population. If periodontal disease is left untreated, the infection can progress which cause bone loss and leads to loose tooth. Periodontitis can be compared to dantapupputaka, one among the dantamoolagata roga (disease of gums) according to Ayurveda.

Aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of raktamokshana (blood letting, panchalavana yava kshara pratisarana (rubbing), arimedadi taila nasya (nasal medication) and gandusha (retention of mouth full of liquid) in the management of periodontitis.

In the present clinical study, 30 patients were registered to have a complaint of Dantapupputaka. Each case was observed for prevalence according to age, gender, occupation, diet pattern, gingival bleeding, inflammation, gingival recession, gum discolouration, pain, halitosis, sponginess, moistness, gingival bleeding index, plaque index, pocket probing depth and oral hygiene index.

6ml arimedadi taila nasya for 7 days, 3g panchalavana yava kshara pratisarana, and 90-110ml arimedadi taila gandusha daily once for 30 days showed significant reductions in gingival bleeding, inflammation, gingival recession, gum discolouration, pain, halitosis, sponginess, moistness, gingival bleeding index, plaque index, pocket probing depth and oral hygiene index, with an improvement of 100%, 93%, 20%, 67%, 83%, 100%, 63%, 50%, 88%, 85%, 73% and 81% respectively. Statistical analyses were performed with SPSS software and are clinically significant with p < 0.0001.

Panchalavana having antibacterial and anti-inflammatory property along with yavakshara with its ushna tikshana guna and ksharana properties cause lekhana karma on dantamamsa and ruchakasti. This helps in reduction of dental plaque deposition. Nasya with arimedadi taila helps to strengthen dantamoola. Ingredients of arimedadi taila having anti-inflammatory, analgesic and vranaropana and varnya properties helps in reduction of subjective symptoms. Since asthi was affected, use of taila gandusha helps in improving asthikshaya with the added benefits of drugs in arimedadi taila.

The Raktamokshana, Arimedadi taila nasya, Panchalavana yava kshara pratisarana and Arimedadi taila gandusha is safe and effective in management of periodontitis.

Keywords: Periodontitis, Dental plaque, Oral hygiene.