In India and in Ayurvedic practices, the hand (fingers) are used to scrape the tongue each morning as a kriya (cleansing technique). You can easily use a tongue scraper – an inexpensive yet transformative utensil, is a simple, thin, u-shaped piece of stainless steel. It consists of a blunted edge that removes plaque and build-up from the surface of the tongue. The tongue cleaner also prevents bad breath, especially for people who eat a lot of dairy and build up mucus in the mouth, nose, and throat. A tongue scraper (Indischen)is a long, thin, flat piece of metal or
plastic that’s bent in a “U” shape to remove bacteria, food debris, and
dead cells from the surface of the tongue.
Traditionally done in
the morning to remove any debris that formed overnight, tongue scraping
is an ancient practice that’s starting to gain modern appeal. Here are
four reasons to add it to your daily routine:
1.
It can temporarily improve bad breath.
Bad breath can have a negative impact on a person’s life,
relationships, and self-esteem. Most bad breath comes from the bacteria
at the back of the tongue, an area that’s difficult to reach with a
toothbrush. Clinical studies have shown that tongue scraping can significantly reduce the amount of this bacteria, leading to better breath.
That’s
because the scraping action of a tongue scraper collects these coatings
(which can range in color from clear, white, yellow, or green, ick!)
and removes them from the mouth in one fell swoop. While you can, of
course, just use a toothbrush to brush the tongue, the unique shape of a
tongue scraper helps it remove more bacteria per swipe.
2.
It can enhance the flavors of your food.
If you don’t take steps to remove buildup on the tongue,
your taste buds can become blocked over time. This may lead to false cravings or an inability to pick up certain flavors from your food.
Tongue scraping has been shown to better expose your taste buds and improve taste sensation.
3.
It’s good for tooth and gum health.
When combined with brushing and flossing, this oral hygiene
practice removes bacteria responsible for periodontal problems, plaque
buildup, tooth decay, gum infections, and gum recession, making it a
good promoter of general tooth and gum health.
4.
It might enhance digestion.
In Ayurveda, proper digestion is considered to be the
foundation of health. Given that digestion begins with taste, the
ancient medical system says that removing tongue buildup ultimately
makes the entire digestive process run more smoothly. Scraping also
activates saliva production and promotes agni (the body’s digestive fire) to help with digestion throughout the day.