Author(s): Hazarika P, Protul Hazarika and D Dutta

Abstract: A study was conducted to survey and document the plant resources as tooth brushing stick (datun) traditionally by the indigenous communities of Assam, India with an objective to explore the potential plant species for dental product formulation in future. The study was conducted in 65 villages and collected information from 21 indigenous communities on traditional tooth brush of plant resources. The study identified 83 plant species belonging to 37 angiosperm families for brushing teeth to maintain oral health and hygiene by these communities. Many of the traditional practices are now in danger as they are considered as obsolete and importance these traditional plant resources observed to decrease gradually even among the remote population. Inheritance of this traditional knowledge among the younger generation of all the communities is very meager. The study will be helpful for the researchers, pharmacologists to locate natural distribution and resource availability of the potential plant species for the promotion of modern dental care products in future by isolating the bioactive ingredients from these recorded plant species.