"Ayurveda 4", Yoga Chuck's Ayurveda Series. 

Tongue Scraper

This recommended Ayurveda practice of Tongue Scraping or cleaning the tongue is a daily practice for maintaining oral health that I've been doing for seven months to remove the ama (toxic debris). This gonk is taken off the top surface of the tongue that has built up overnight.

If you clean your tongue with a toothbrush it does not clean the tongue as well, it might even be pushing toxins into the tongue.

The tongue scraper pictured, is similar to the stainless steel Tongue Scraper I use. It is U shaped and takes 2 hands to use. I believe this gives me more control and I feel I'm doing a better job than the V shape style used by one hand would do. You can get tongue scrapers made out of stainless steel, copper, bronze and plastic. The stainless steel one I use is easy to clean and does a great job. Stainless steel is hygienic, never wears out and is impervious to bacteria. Carol, my wife just bought one last week and is using hers.

Some cultures have been cleaning their tongues for centuries. Tongues were even cleaned in Roman Times. And it's been documented in the 18th and 19th centuries in Europe where the tongue cleaners were made of sterling silver, ivory, and tortoise shell. Tongue scraping is a common practice in a lot of Asian countries and in India.

I clean my tongue once a day but a lot of people clean their tongue before going to bed helping prevent morning breath. Carol might want me to start scraping before bed 🙂

Besides helping to keep the breath fresher, tongue scraping also improves taste. This happens because it takes the coating off the tongue that dulls your taste and prevents toxins from being reabsorbed possibly improving the immune system.

Some clinical studies have found that oral bacteria is associated with a number of serious systemic diseases: Heart attack, cerebral stroke, pneumonia, premature birth, and low fetus weight at birth, Increased risk of diabetes, osteoporosis, infertility for men and more.

If you are a person with a sensitive gag reflex try relaxing the tongue and muscles of the throat and exhaling during the scraping.

How I use my tongue scraper: First thing I do when waking up is swish cold water in my mouth and spit it out, this I've been told can help solidify the gunk and makes it easier to remove. Then I stick out my tongue and place the scraper at the back and drag it to the front of the tongue. I rinse the scraper after every pull and I'm pulling 6 to 10 times. It is a firm gentle pull.

Begin tongue scraping to help eliminate undesirable bacteria and bad breath.

Happy & Healthy,
Yoga Chuck