1"Bhikkhus, there are these five dangers in not brushing one's teeth. [n.1216] Dantakaṭṭhassa akhādane, lit. "in not chewing on toothwood." In the Buddha’s time people cleaned their teeth by brushing them with sticks of medicinal wood such as neem, sharpened at one end and made brush-like at the base. This practice is still observed in rural India as well as in monasteries in southern Asia. What five? It is bad for one's eyes; one's breath stinks; one's taste buds are not purified; bile and phlegm envelop one's food; and one's food does not agree with one. These are the five dangers in not brushing one's teeth.

2"Bhikkhus, there are these five benefits in brushing one's teeth. What five? It is good for one's eyes; one's breath does not stink; one's taste buds are purified; bile and phlegm do not envelop one's food; and one's food agrees with one. These are the five benefits in brushing one's teeth."

1"Pañcime, bhikkhave, ādīnavā dantakaṭṭhassa akhādane. Katame pañca? Acakkhussaṁ, mukhaṁ duggandhaṁ hoti, rasāhāraṇiyo na visujjhanti, pittaṁ semhaṁ bhattaṁ pariyonandhati, bhattamassa nacchādeti. Ime kho, bhikkhave, pañca ādīnavā dantakaṭṭhassa akhādane.

2Pañcime, bhikkhave, ānisaṁsā dantakaṭṭhassa khādane. Katame pañca? Cakkhussaṁ, mukhaṁ na duggandhaṁ hoti, rasāhāraṇiyo visujjhanti, pittaṁ semhaṁ bhattaṁ na pariyonandhati, bhattamassa chādeti. Ime kho, bhikkhave, pañca ānisaṁsā dantakaṭṭhassa khādane"ti.

Aṭṭhamaṁ.