The Buddha describes the five drawbacks of not using chew sticks.

AN 5.208 Chew Sticks

“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.

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.

Aṭṭhamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Pañcime, bhikkhave, ādīnavā dantakaṭṭhassa akhādane.

“Mendicants, there are these five drawbacks of not using chew sticks.

Katame pañca?

What five?

Acakkhussaṁ, mukhaṁ duggandhaṁ hoti, rasaharaṇiyo na visujjhanti, pittaṁ semhaṁ bhattaṁ pariyonandhati, bhattamassa nacchādeti.

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.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, pañca ādīnavā dantakaṭṭhassa akhādane.

These are the five drawbacks of not using chew sticks.

Pañcime, bhikkhave, ānisaṁsā dantakaṭṭhassa khādane.

There are these five benefits of using chew sticks.

Katame pañca?

What five?

Cakkhussaṁ, mukhaṁ na duggandhaṁ hoti, rasaharaṇiyo visujjhanti, pittaṁ semhaṁ bhattaṁ na pariyonandhati, bhattamassa chādeti.

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.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, pañca ānisaṁsā dantakaṭṭhassa khādane”ti.

These are the five benefits of using chew sticks.”

Aṭṭhamaṁ.

Qualities:

Harm

Harm

Intention or action that causes injury or suffering to oneself or others. It arises from aversion and heedlessness and destroys trust and safety. The opposite of non-harm, it obscures compassion and leads to regret.

Also known as: injury causing behavior, destructiveness, bad, evil
Pāli: pāpaka
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Wholesome

Wholesome

Conducive to or suggestive of good health and mental well-being.

Also known as: blameless, skillful, beneficial, good, useful, healthy, nourishing, sustaining
Pāli: kusala
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Last updated on July 27, 2026