In a world fussing over trendy dental care routines, it's important to remember some of the most effective practices have been around for centuries. We are talking about a daily ritual that not only elevates your senses but also revitalizes your oral health -- Tongue scraping. It is an ancient practice rooted in Ayurveda that offers a multitude of benefits.
As we delve into the depths of this time-honored technique, get ready to embrace a practice that not only cleanses your tongue but also rejuvenates your overall well-being, offers a fresher breath, a sharper palate, and a deeper connection to the wisdom of ancient wellness.
Ayurveda places significant emphasis on the value of maintaining and enhancing health through personal hygiene practices. As outlined in the dinacharya (daily routine) section of Ayurvedic teachings, cleaning the tongue each morning constitutes a crucial component of daily1 personal hygiene rituals that ought to be diligently observed. In Ayurveda, the tongue is considered a mirror of the body's internal health. The shape, color, coating, or texture—indicates the state of your overall health. Thus, Ayurveda talks extensively about tongue health and practices to maintain it and a part of these practices is tongue scraping.
Tongue scraping or jihwa prakshalana is a traditional Ayurvedic practice that involves cleaning the tongue's surface to promote oral and overall health. Tongue scraping is believed2 to remove toxins, bacteria, and coating that accumulate on the tongue overnight.
As mentioned above, our tongue is important not only for the sense of taste but also as it performs various other functions. When our body removes toxins or ama from our body, some of them get deposited onto the surface of our tongue and if we fail to scrape them away, they get reabsorbed into the body and may potentially lead to problems including loss of taste, bad breath, etc. Therefore, it is important to clean and scrape our tongue to maintain its optimal health.
According to Ayurvedic wisdom, tongue scraping should be done on a regular basis in the morning. By cleaning teeth and tongue one can get rid of bad breath (halitosis), or taste disorders (dysgeusia)
The ideal tool to perform the ritual could be a U shaped tool made of either gold, silver, copper, tin or brass2. However, the tongue scraper should not be sharp. The market is full of plastic tongue scrapers too, but they are comparatively difficult to maintain and do not last as long as metal scrapers do. You may also make use of a spoon if you don't have a tongue scraper; gently scrape from the back of the tongue until the whole surface is clean.8
Steps:
Do not forget to rinse the scraper after scraping.
According to Ayurveda and modern day research, there are several benefits associated with tongue scrapping. Some significant benefits include:
According to modern day research3 a vast majority of bad breath cases have their root causes in the mouth, and half of those are attributed to by tongue residues including bacteria. The study concluded that tongue scraping is an effective strategy for improving breath.
READ MORE: Six Easy Ayurvedic Tips For Healthy Digestion
In the realm of Ayurveda, the practice of tongue scraping holds a significant place as a daily ritual for maintaining overall well-being. The practice involves gently cleaning the tongue's surface to remove accumulated toxins, bacteria, and debris. By embracing this practice, you engage with an ancient tradition that promotes digestive health, detoxification, and overall vitality. It is important to remember that tongue scraping is an embodiment of the deep connection between our oral health and body's equilibrium.
READ MORE: An Ayurvedic Guide To Oral Health Care | Know The Ayurvedic Benefits Of Neem For Oral Hygiene
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