Fact Check: Can Shitkari Pranayam Cure Toothache?
A reel posted on Instagram states that Shitkari Pranayam can cure toothache. The claim made by the user is FALSE.
Claim
There is an Instagram post that claims that "Cure toothache by Shitkari pranayam.". In the post, the user dr_kanta_aggarwal states "If you have a toothache, we can cure your toothache without medicines." She goes on to add that we can relieve toothache by doing just one pranayam. "The name of this pranayama is shitkari pranayam. In this, we inhale through the mouth through the teeth and exhale slowly through the nose," she states. She then goes on to demonstrate how to perform this pranayam. She ends by stating that if you do this twice a day, you will soon start seeing results.
The post can be accessed here
Fact check
This claim is False. Shitkari pranayama may help reduce anxiety and bring the mind to a calm and peaceful state but there is no evidence to support that it can cure toothache.
Understanding Toothache and its various causes
Toothache or Odontogenic pain refers to pain initiating from the teeth or their supporting structures, the mucosa, gingivae, maxilla, mandible or periodontal membrane.
Responding to the claim Dr. Bhumika Gupta Dani, Dental Surgeon, Dani Dental Clinic, Kawardha, Chhattisgarh said, "As a dentist, I often get questions about alternative remedies like pranayam or certain yoga practices for toothache relief. While shitkari pranayam technique may be great for calming the mind and reducing stress, it's important to understand that it won’t cure a toothache. Tooth pain typically arises from dental problems such as cavities, infections, or gum disease, which require professional care, such as fillings, root canals, or the use of antibiotics. Ignoring the problem and hoping that breathing exercises alone will fix it can actually make things worse. However, Shitkari pranayam can still be helpful as a way to manage discomfort and anxiety while you’re dealing with tooth pain. It can make you feel more relaxed, but it's not going to address the root cause of the pain."
Adding to this Dr. Twinkale Parekh, Orthodontist, Sanjeevani Multispeciality Clinic, Kanika New Colony, Cuttak, told Medical Dialogues that “ It's important to clarify that while pranayama like Shitkari Pranayam may have calming effects, can help you relax and manage stress, it won't actually cure a toothache. Tooth pain is usually caused by issues like cavities, infections, or gum disease, which require professional treatment such as fillings, root canals, or medications. Ignoring the pain and relying solely on breathing exercises could make the problem worse over time. If you're dealing with persistent tooth pain, it's always best to see a dentist to get to the root of the problem.
Medical Dialogues Final Take
While Shitkari pranayama may help to relax and calm the mind, reduce anxiety, help reduce blood pressure and combat heat stress, toothache or dental pain is a symptom that can only be resolved by treating its underlying cause which may be dental caries, dental sensitivity, dental abscess, apical periodontitis and many more. Shitkari pranayama may help reduce the stress associated with dental pain but it cannot cure the toothache. Hence This claim is false
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