Benefits of tongue cleaning

Have you ever tried tongue cleaning? Have you ever heard of a tongue cleaner?

Have you ever noticed a pale, bilious-looking coating on your tongue or even a sticky feeling that seems to affect your taste? If so, tongue cleaning could really work for you.

In Ayurveda, it is called “Ama” which can be identified as the accumulation of metabolic toxins built up in the oral cavity while we sleep. This substance also indicates the state of our digestive system – if you notice an increase in Ama, it is likely that you have an imbalanced digestion.

It is important for our gut health that we pay attention to the consistency and appearance of Ama on our tongue, as this will tell us if our digestive system is working too hard and unable to process food efficiently. It is noted that the color of Ama can indicate which dosha is threatened. Whitish Ama is said to be associated with Kapha, yellow with Pitta and brown with Vata.

This Ayurvedic ritual, known in the West as Jihwa Prakshalana, or "scraping or cleaning the tongue," helps assess whether your dosha is in balance or out of balance.

This holistic approach to oral hygiene has many benefits, such as:

• Promotes a healthy tongue and therefore a happy bowel!
• Removes toxins and plaque build-up from the mouth
• Prevents bad breath
• Increases the sensitivity of the taste buds
• Can improve skin as toxins that are ingested are eliminated

How to use a tongue cleaner correctly?

• Do it as soon as you wake up in the morning
• Open your mouth and gently stretch out your tongue
• Place the tongue cleaner firmly on the back of the tongue and pull forward with slight pressure.
• Rinse off the tongue cleaner
• Rinse your mouth between every 6-8 brushings. Adjust your ritual depending on the amount of Ama
• Rinse the tongue cleaner thoroughly in hot water

We hope that this easy but useful ritual will enter your life.