Say cheese!
Piper & Leslie: Happy smiles and healthy teeth!
When we think about oral care, we often think first and foremost of the teeth. But it goes much deeper than that.
There are so many great herbal and Ayurvedic habits to support oral health, this is going to be a multi-part newsletter. Part one: tongue scraping and oil pulling.
Yes. That’s right. We scrape our tongues and swish herbally infused oil to support healthy teeth and gums. I don’t know about you, but first thing in the morning, my tongue does not feel properly awake until I scrape that thing!
Tongue analysis is a diagnostic tool used in Ayurveda. We read the tone, shape, texture, color, and style of presentation when one says, “Please stick out your tongue.” The tongue displays challenges the body is facing, along with clues about constitutional makeup, or Vata, Pitta, and Kapha.
According to the Ayurvedic tradition, the morning coating on our tongue is a build-up of bacteria and toxins, or ama, produced by weaker agni, or digestive fire. We want to remove that instead of brushing it deeper into the tongue, or swallowing it with our morning food and drink.
To do so: extend the tongue out and, starting as far back as is comfortable, gently pull the scraper forward, removing the coating as you go. Rinse well and repeat 7-14 times.
Usually, my scraper is the first item in my toiletry bag. On the rare occasion when I’ve traveled without it, I’ve been found rooting around in the utensil drawer for a spoon that’s the right size and shape for the job. Once you start this habit, I think you’ll find you cannot go without it.
Along with clearing toxins and freshening the mouth and breath, scraping the tongue also massages the tongue, which contains a map of our organs.
Similar to a reflexology treatment affecting the entire body, scraping the tongue awakens the organs and stimulates that hard-working digestive fire, preparing us for our day.
You can see on my rudimentary drawing of the map of the tongue, meant to be a mirror image so you can examine your own tongue, all the organs are represented and awaiting their massage. As we scrape and observe, we note areas that are red, cracked, irritated, pale, etc, and start being our own “health detectives” to consider how the corresponding organs are functioning.
After we’ve gotten that ama off our tongues, we oil pull!
Swish swish swish. Bathing the gums, teeth, and tongue in herbally infused oil is a calming practice first thing in the morning.
Bonus: if you’re swishing oil around for 20 minutes, you can’t talk, so you begin your day in meditative quiet.
Bathing our teeth and gums with oil not only helps rid the mouth of bacteria and plaque, restoring a healthy microbiome, it also works the muscles of the face and neck, supporting healthy lymphatic flow.
Use one tablespoon of raw oil (traditionally sesame or coconut). Swish around the mouth, and between teeth for, ideally, 15-20 minutes.
Please use caution to not swallow any of this oil as it is intended to carry bacteria and microbes out of your body.
When you’re done, spit out either outside or into a garbage can—oil down sinks will be a mess to deal with later. It’s important to then rinse and spit with water. I use a cup of warm water with a bit of solé as it helps me feel like I’ve fully cleansed the dregs of the oil.
These new morning habits will start you off feeling more awake and refreshed. Your oral care just got an upgrade.
I added a few extra tongue scrapers and 8-oz Mint Daily Swishes to my last Banyan Botanicals delivery. You can order the duo from me ($25), or check out Banyan Botanicals’ full site. They offer these individually, and as a set with a Mint Tooth Powder as well.
We’re at the tail end of Mercury retrograde! It goes direct tomorrow. Hallelujah! I’ve had some lovely synchronicities, which seem to happen more frequently during a retrograde. But I’ve also had some annoying tech and connection issues. It helps me to know what Mercury is doing so that I have humor and patience during these “traveling-backwards” times. Next one is October 24th through November 13th. Clear communication and travel for the holiday season—what a gift!
