One amazing way to stay in tune with your body and your overall health is to check your tongue on a daily basis. Your tongue can reveal a lot about your overall health. That’s one reason why doctors commonly ask you to stick out your tongue during your visit.

If you notice any sores, sensations, unusual colors, or coatings on your tongue....consider that your body’s way of telling you something is off, and it wouldn’t hurt to get things checked out by a medical professional.

The great thing about tongue scraping is....not only is it incredibly effective at keeping your tongue clean and healthy, but it also presents an opportunity to really look at and evaluate the condition of your tongue every single day. 

At Davids, we’re all for healthy oral care habits that reconnect you with your body and truly nurture your overall health.

how to read your tongue

In general, a healthy tongue appears pink with small nodules called papillae, which contain your taste buds. It should have few to no grooves and cracks, and it should feel neutral in your mouth (no stinging, tingling, or burning).

Now, if you’re tongue scraping, and you notice something is off with your tongue, take note. Below we’ve outlined a few problems that can appear on your tongue.

• white coating or spots: this typically indicates oral thrush, a yeast infection in the mouth. This commonly occurs after a round of antibiotics, as your oral microbiome is disrupted.
• pale pink tongue: this could be a sign of weakened immunity, low energy, vitamin deficiency, or a combination of the three.
• bright red “strawberry” tongue: this could also be a sign of vitamin deficiency. If your red tongue is paired with a fever, it could indicate Kawasaki disease or Scarlet fever.
• purple tongue: a dark purple tongue could indicate chronic inflammation or infection.
• black “hairy” tongue: a “hairy” tongue can develop when the papillae grow longer and collect bacteria. This condition is more common for those with diabetes, those taking antibiotics, or those currently receiving chemotherapy. It’s generally harmless, but it’s definitely a good idea to get it checked by a dental professional.
• swollen tongue: there are many causes for a swollen tongue....infection, inflammation, allergic reaction, medication side effects, or trauma (biting, burning, piercing, etc.).
• sore or bumpy tongue: a sore or bumpy tongue could be a result of burning your tongue, clenching your jaw, or grinding your teeth. Bumps can also appear if you smoke or develop canker sores. If the sores don’t go away within two weeks, it could indicate oral cancer.

Dental Ayurveda suggests that the tongue is connected to specific internal organs, such as the heart, liver, lungs, kidneys, pancreas, intestines, stomach, and spleen. When different areas of the tongue appear “off” it could suggest a toxin overload in one of these organs.

five famous benefits of a tongue scraper

1: tongue scraping removes bacteria, dead cells, toxins, and debris

Not only does tongue scraping reduce your body’s overall toxin load, but it also helps maintain balance in your oral microbiome. Your mouth contains 700+ different types of bacteria, some harmful and some beneficial. Your tongue, specifically, is a breeding ground for bad bacteria since it’s cushy, porous, and grooved.

Research shows that tongue scraping effectively reduces the number of bad bacteria that form on your tongue overnight and throughout your day. Using a tongue scraper during your regular oral care routine can help protect against bad breath, cavities, gum disease, and more.

2: tongue scraping can stimulate your organs

As previously mentioned, Ayurveda suggests that certain parts of your tongue correspond to certain organs. An issue with any part of your tongue could indicate a toxin overload in one of these organs.

Similarly, when you clean your mouth with a tongue scraper, you remove toxins from your tongue while massaging the tissue. According to ancient Ayurveda, this removes toxins and stimulates the associated organs, restoring internal balance by reducing your body’s overall toxic load.

3: tongue scraping can improve digestion

Your mouth plays a very special role in digestion, activating the process by producing saliva and acting as the window to your gut.

Studies have shown that harmful bacteria and pathogens that live in your mouth can pass through your digestive system and enter your gut. This can cause inflammation, discomfort, and a weakened immune system.

When you use a tongue scraper, you can remove these harmful microorganisms before they reach your gut microbiome. A 2018 study revealed that tongue scraping every morning for four weeks improved the subjects’ fatigue, digestion, and elimination.

4: tongue scraping can improve your taste

By tongue scraping, you’re removing the thin coating that exists on your tongue, cleansing and renewing your taste buds. This allows you to taste things with a fresh palate.

Researchers go on to say that the improved taste due to tongue scraping might lead to higher satisfaction during meals, which can actually help your digestion too. When taste and satisfaction increase, you’re more likely to stop eating when you’re full. This could prevent overeating, consequently reducing the amount of undigested food from accumulating in your body over time.

5: tongue scraping can increase your health awareness

To reiterate, tongue scraping every day introduces an amazing opportunity to check in with your health. Connecting with your body in this way allows you to sooner identify when something looks or feels “off.” 

But even if your tongue is perfectly healthy (which we love to see), tongue scraping also allows you to maintain this health and start+end your day on a fresh, positive, mindful note. What’s not to love?

how Davids nurtures your tongue health and overall health

Now, it’s important to note that tongue scraping alone is not enough to maintain your oral and overall health. We recommend flossing, brushing, tongue scraping, and rinsing with natural mouthwash (in that order).

When you brush with our natural toothpaste before tongue scraping, the leftover toothpaste remains on your tongue, delivering our intentional, bacteria-fighting ingredients to this porous surface. When you use your tongue scraper with our natural toothpaste, you allow these ingredients to penetrate the crevices on your tongue and kill bad bacteria that may be living there.

It’s the perfect routine to start and end your day on the freshest possible note.

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