Did you know that your tongue is a window to your wellbeing? In Ayurveda, we believe it’s linked to many of the body’s organs - the heart, kidneys, liver, lungs and stomach. Not just that but you can also tell how healthy those organs are by keeping a close eye on your tongue.
Tongue scraping is a vital Ayurvedic practice which maintains both oral and whole body health. But that’s not the only reason it should be part of your morning routine.
Intrigued? Here are four other benefits of tongue scraping…
1. Better digestion
Tongue scraping improves your body’s ability to digest food. When you’re at your healthiest, as soon as you start eating, your body begins to digest by using enzymes in your saliva to break down food.
However, if your taste buds are blocked due to a build-up on the surface of your tongue, it becomes more difficult for your mouth’s receptors to send messages to the brain. This, in turn, means that the enzymes are not released, and the very first stage of digestion is delayed. Tongue scraping removes this build-up, enabling easier communication between the body and brain.
If you want to give your gut a further push in the right direction, why not take a look at our Healthy Digestion Kit? Not only does it include a copper tongue scraper but also our bestselling Rest and Digest capsules, which have been designed to boost and detoxify your digestive system with all natural ingredients.
2. Improved sense of taste
If you can see a coating on your tongue, it’s usually a build-up of toxins. This cannot only affect your wellbeing, but can also have a direct impact on your ability to taste food. Scraping and cleaning your tongue eliminates toxins and removes dead cells, allowing taste buds to function at their best.
3. Boosted oral health
In general, tongue scraping is great for upping your oral hygiene game which means fewer cavities and reduced chances of gum disease, according to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.
This is because tongue scraping gets rid of the bacteria in the mouth that’s responsible for tooth decay, gum damage and poor oral health. The result? A cleaner mouth that can’t be achieved by a toothbrush alone.
4. No more bad breath
Bacteria can also lead to bad breath. In fact, it breaks down leftover food on the tongue and teeth, producing smelly and volatile sulfur compounds. Removing both the bacteria and the traces of food from your tongue means a decrease in embarrassing odours: win-win!
What’s your tongue saying?
The truth is, your tongue never lies! Ayurveda says the colour of your tongue’s coating can indicate dosha imbalances too. Be sure to keep an eye on this when you’re scraping; you can make changes to your diet to rebalance your body and restore your tongue’s natural, healthy colour.-
Grey, black or brown: there’s a Vata imbalance. Eat warm, spicy foods to counter the cool properties of Vata.
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Yellow, orange, red, green: Pitta toxins are present. Avoid spice and eat cooling foods like coconut, watermelon & avocado.
- Thick white: Kapha is off balance. Cook with warming spices to aid digestion.
While you might think regular dental check ups and brushing your teeth is enough, it’s really only the start to great oral health. At Deja, we’ve got you covered though with our 100% copper, tongue scraper.
Not only does it look great on the bathroom shelf but it’s a naturally antibacterial precious metal. Simply use it every morning, before eating and before you brush and floss. Don’t forget to rinse the scraper with warm water afterwards too. We recommend replacing your tongue scraper every 6 months.
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