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[Nishīthasūtra 50. A monk who polishes or rubs his teeth, or approves of someone who polishes or rubs their teeth, incurs a minor monthly atonement.
48. A monk who washes his teeth with cold or hot water, once or repeatedly, or approves of someone who washes their teeth, incurs a minor monthly atonement.
49. A monk who colors his teeth with missi or other substances, or makes them shiny by applying oil or other substances, or approves of someone who does so, incurs a minor monthly atonement.
Discussion - In Dashavaikalika A. 3, Ga. 3, tooth brushing is called an act of misconduct. In Uvvai and other Agamas, "adanta-dhavan" (not brushing teeth) is mentioned as a practice in the life of a Shraman. In the present age, due to the difference in the food and water consumed by monks and nuns compared to ancient times, there is a possibility of tooth decay or "pyorrhea" if they do not brush their teeth. Therefore, those monks and nuns who wish to follow this Jina-injunction should take the following precautions:
1. Do not consume nutritious foods, and if they do, they should observe fasts or other austerities.
2. Always practice the Unodari tapa (austerity of eating only once a day).
3. Do not consume extremely hot or extremely cold substances.
4. After eating or drinking something, one should drink some water while cleaning their teeth. Similarly, when abandoning the four viharas in the evening, one should drink water while thoroughly cleaning their teeth.
5. Do not eat chocolates, pills, etc.
By taking these precautions, even while following the "adanta-dhavan" rule, teeth can remain healthy, and there can be a state of samadhi (concentration) in sensory restraint, celibacy, etc.
The Agamic injunctions regarding adanta-dhavan, bathing, celibacy, Unodari tapa, and other external and internal austerities, and all other rules are interconnected. Therefore, only by fully following all the Agamic rules can health and the samadhi of restraint be maintained.
The implication is that success in sensory restraint can be achieved only with the observance of the adanta-dhavan rule and with discretion in eating and drinking. Success in sensory restraint is the success of restraint worship. For these reasons, the Agamas give so much importance to adanta-dhavan.
Generally, using toothpaste and performing tooth-brushing related activities are all unsuitable practices for a life of restraint. However, if teeth become diseased due to carelessness or any other reason, using toothpaste and performing tooth-brushing related activities for medical treatment is not an act of misconduct. And it does not incur atonement from the present sutra.
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