Ayurvedic Tongue Scraping & Oil Pulling
Tongue scrapping and oil pulling are two oral hygiene practices in Ayurveda. It can be used in addition to brushing, flossing, and mouthwash.
TONGUE SCRAPING
Tongue scraping is similar to brushing your tongue with a toothbrush, but more effective.
Regular tongue scraping improves taste buds, eliminates bad breath, removes harmful bacteria and aids digestion.
What causes bad breath?
While you sleep, saliva production shuts down and your mouth breeds millions of bacteria.
You’ll find traces of food debris, fungi, toxins, and dead cells that create a white coating found on the surface of the tongue, which in Ayurveda is called ama. Ama is a waste product that builds up in the digestive tract when your digestion is either too weak or overloaded with the wrong kinds of food.
The more sattvic (pure) your diet, the fewer toxins you’ll find. If bacteria accumulates on the tongue, toxins get reabsorbed into the body, thus weakening the overall digestive system, which is why tongue scraping is a way to prevent harmful bacteria from accumulating on the tongue.
In Ayurveda, a tongue diagnosis involves observing the coating, shape, and colour in specific tongue regions.
Learn more on how to observe the tongue for dosha imbalances: here.
TYPES OF TONGUE SCRAPERS
Traditional tongue scrapers are made from copper, gold, silver, tin, or brass.
Copper and stainless steel are the most popular choices today. Choosing the right one depends on preference. Copper scrapers are naturally antibacterial, while stainless steel scrapers contains fewer allergens.
HOW TO USE
Hold the tongue scraper with both hands on each end.
Place the scraper on the back of the tongue and gently scrape from back to front.
Rinse in between strokes, especially if there is a lot of accumulation of white mucus.
Once finished, dry and store in a clean place.
HOW TO CARE
To care for a copper tongue scrapper wash it with a gentle soap and warm water after each use.
For a deep clean, mix 1 part lemon juice to 1 part baking soda. Rub the mixture onto the scraper and rinse with water. You can also mix salt with a few teaspoons of vinegar and pour the mixture over the tongue scraper. Rinse with water and dry.
To care for a stainless steel tongue scrapper wash it with gentle soap and warm water after each use. For a deep clean, soak the scraper in hydrogen peroxide for 15 mins.
OIL PULLING
Oil pulling is Ayurveda’s ancient mouthwash.
Oil pulling is the practice of swishing a tablespoon of oil in your mouth for 10-15 minutes then spitting it out to remove harmful bacteria.
The fatty part of the oil attaches to the fatty cell membrane of the bacteria in your mouth and is removed when you spit it out.
Regular practice will help freshen the breath, support healthy gums, reduce tooth decay, fight off fungal infections, and balance the oral microbiome. Read more on the benefits of oil pulling: here
WHICH OILS TO USE
In Ayurveda, there are 3 doshas that determine your body composition and energetic make up.
Take this quiz to find your dosha: Dosha Quiz. This is good start to discovering your dosha but it’s always recommended to get an Ayurvedic doctor’s opinion on your true dosha type.
Vatas + Kaphas are suggested to use sesame oil
Pittas are suggested to use coconut oil
Coconut oil is the most common method today.
HOW TO OIL PULL
The best time to oil pull is in the morning on an empty stomach to stimulate your appetite and enhance your sense of taste.
Place 1 tablespoon of oil into the mouth and swish it around for as long as possible. Start from 2-5 minutes and work your way up to 10-15 minutes.
Once finished, spit the oil into the trash. Do not swallow or spit the oil into sink to avoid clogging the drains.
Rinse with warm water and brush teeth as regular to remove remaining toxins or oil.
Incorporate these two practices and you’re well on your way to incorporating more Ayurvedic ancient healing practices into your daily routine.
