Neem Datun: Benefits Of Brushing With Neem Sticks

Neen Datun

Neem datun | Neem ki datun is one of the best ingredients to use for preventing all sorts of dental problems. Though both neem datun and babul datun are famous in India, neem datun has wonderful teeth benefits and is the most preferred as it has very very powerful anti microbial properties thus helping us prevent tooth decay and gum diseases.

Neem datun can be used to brush our teeth daily and our elders were doing just that. I am not suggesting that we should only brush our teeth with these natural brushes but we should try to use these natural brushes as often as we can.

What Is Neem Datun?

Datun refers to teeth cleaning twig, usually teeth cleaning twigs are got from two trees in India, one is neem and another is babul tree. The twig got from neem tree is referred to as neem datun. Till few years back, it used to be a common sight in my village to see someone plucking a neem branch in the morning, make a tooth brush out of it and brush.

But all that is changing now, it is a rare sight to see someone use neem bark as a tooth brush. With very attractive advertisements for commercial tooth paste and brushes increasing everyday, our humble neem sticks don’t stand a chance.

I remember, one of our relatives who was well into his late eighties used to proudly say to me that he can bite into anything. He was right, with the traditional diet rich in natural fiber, less in sugar and using natural tooth brushes, I am very sure our elders had a stronger teeth than us.

Benefits Of Brushing With Neem Sticks

1. For Gum Disease & Tooth Decay:

Nothing can beat gum diseases like brushing our teeth with natural twigs with anti bacterial properties. Especially, neem datun has been known to prevent tooth decay. Chewing on the tender bark of neem twigs helps the juices to flow into our mouth, these antibacterial juices prevent gum diseases very effectively.

2. For Mouth Odor:

Mouth odor is usually caused by the bacteria present in the mouth. Since neem has antibacterial properties, it helps prevent mouth odor very effectively. If you suffer from mouth odor, regularly use neem datun to brush your teeth before going to bed for a few days. You will find the problem gone very soon.

3. For Tooth Ache:

Nothing can beat tooth ache like neem datun. When you have a toothache, take a tender neem twig and chew on it, make sure to do it using the affected tooth. You will find the toothache gone very soon. The only problem with neem datun is bitterness and you can reduce the bitterness by using tender twigs.

How To Use Neem Datun : 2 Ways !

Though finding fresh neem bark is difficult for some, it can double up as a tongue cleaner too. Peel of the thin layer from a fresh bark, bend it to get a u shape and your homemade tongue cleaner is ready!

For children, chewing on neem will be difficult as it is bitter, pound the neem twigs and then give them, this will reduce the bitterness as the bitter juices will flow out while pounding. If children use neem datun from young age, chances of them getting dental problems later will greatly reduce.

1. As a Tooth Brush:

Take a fresh tender neem branch, remove the leaves and start chewing on one end. Now it is ready to be used as a brush. It will be very bitter when you bite into it, if you don’t want the bitterness make sure to pound it once and then use.

2. As a Tongue Cleaner:

Take a little hard neem branch. If it is too hard, it will be hard to peel and if it is too tender, it will tear. Start peeling from one end and bend it to you shape, your homemade tongue cleaner is ready!