AN 5.208

Dantakaṭṭhasutta

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

Chew Sticks

“Mendicants, there are these five drawbacks of not using chew sticks. What five? It’s not good for your eyes, you get bad breath, your taste-buds aren’t cleaned, bile and phlegm cover your food, and you lose your appetite. These are the five drawbacks of not using chew sticks.

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

There are these five benefits of using chew sticks. What five? It’s good for your eyes, you don’t get bad breath, your taste-buds are cleaned, bile and phlegm don’t cover your food, and food agrees with you. These are the five benefits of using chew sticks.”