Indeed, why should you, especially if the very thought of it makes you feel queezy!
Is it enough to be told “It’s good for you!” ?
Well, it is, but more than that, it is a small changes you can make easily that has a big impact for your health in the long term.
It is a small habit to instal alongside your normal morning waking routine, very quick to do and requires nothing more than your tongue scraper!
Here is what the Yoga Journal has to say about it:
(Ama can be roughly translatable as toxins)
” Mind Your Mouth: Whereas many of us may dismiss morning tongue-fuzz as an innocuous by-product of sleep, Ayurveda interprets it as a sign of undigested ama lurking in the digestive tract. Ayurvedic practitioners thus rely on the aptly named tongue scraper to dislodge ama, lest it be reabsorbed while eating or drinking. (Both plastic and metal tongue scrapers are sold at many health food stores, but a stainless steel spoon works in a pinch.) Scrape the tongue gently, working from back to front. Use seven to 14 strokes to cover the entire area. This not only rids the tongue of ama, but also unearths the taste buds, awakening the gastric fire for another day of savouring food.
Then tap the teeth together a few times to stimulate the energy meridians that lie in the mouth. For healthy gums and enamel, brush your teeth with a soft nylon or a natural bristle toothbrush. (Using a hard toothbrush can cause gum recession, pain between the teeth and gums, and damage enamel.) Use a toothpaste free of synthetic chemicals and harsh abrasives. Ayurvedic toothpastes contain herbs, such as neem, lohdra, and kushta, that will help stimulate gums and protect enamel. After brushing, rinse your mouth for two to three minutes with warm olive or sesame oil (swish and spit, don’t swallow). “Gargling with warm oil strengthens the teeth, gums, and jaws as well as protecting the voice,” says Amita Banerjee, an Ayurvedic nutritionist at New York’s Ayurvedic Beauty Holistic Centre. Then use the index finger to massage the remaining oil into the gums with small, counterclockwise motions. A gum massage stimulates gum tissue, lubricates cells, and cleanses digestive fire.”
So no long ques forming to reabsorb toxins then!
But you’re not persuaded yet?…
Here is a link to an article on the Elephant Journal
Still need more info?
More benefits of the tongue scraper here.
Have your say and comment below. I thank you!