In this post, we’ll unpack all you need to know about tongue scraping, defining exactly what it is, why it’s important, the benefits, how to tongue scrape and more.
What Is Tongue Scraping?
Tongue scraping is an ancient Ayurvedic oral hygiene practice that removes toxins, bacteria, food debris, fungi and dead cells from your tongue. It is traditionally done using a small, lightweight and slightly rounded tool made from metal.
Why Is Tongue Scraping Important?
When sleeping, our digestive system removes toxins from the body and deposits them onto our tongue. If not removed, these toxins can be reabsorbed into the body and can affect breathing, agni (digestion) and compromise our immune system.
The tongue has long been understood, particularly in many Eastern cultures, to be a reflection of our overall health. Therefore, a daily look at your tongue prior to tongue scraping can give you great insight into your lifestyle habits.
The Benefits Of Tongue Scraping
Benefits of tongue scraping include:
- Removes toxins, bacteria, food debris, fungi and dead cells
- Prevents bad breath.
- Enhances sense of taste.
- Promotes overall oral and digestive health.
- Gently stimulates internal organs.
How To Tongue Scrape
- Hold the U-shapes tongue scraper in each hand.
- Stick out your tongue.
- Gently guide the scraper on the upper tongue from back to front several times.
- Rinse the scraper in between strokes if there is a lot of accumulation.
For maximum benefits, tongue scraping should be done first thing every morning before doing anything, including talking, eating and drinking which all activate the saliva glands. Store your tongue scraper in a clean and dry place.
Do this first thing in the morning before you eat or drink anything or start talking, which activates the saliva glands (within a few minutes of waking for maximum effectiveness).
For those who experience a gag reflex during scraping, it may be because you are either scraping to aggressively or are scraping too far back.
What Type Of Tongue Scraper Should I Use?
Research has shown that a tongue scraper is more effective at removing toxins and bacteria from the tongue than a toothbrush.
It is recommended to use U-shaped tongue scrapers made of gold, silver, copper, tin or brass. Copper is most recommended due to its antibacterial properties.
Summary
Tongue scraping is an oral hygiene ritual that removes toxins from the surface of your tongue.
It is one of the most overlooked hygiene practices, yet it is one of the simplest and most important practices that can have a significant impact on our overall health and well-being.
