Recently, our founder Hanna Azirar explained to Maria Elvira, Beauty Editor of InStyle Magazine, the benefits of this magical tool.
At KŌNSE Beauty we have always been fascinated by Ayurvedic medicine, as it is much more than medicine and its focus is taking care of our body from a holistic perspective. It is an ancient, 5,000-year-old practice that began in India and focuses on prevention, on the concept that overall health and well-being depend on a delicate balance between mind, body, and spirit, and this is the pillar of our philosophy here at KŌNSE.
The self-care ritual known as tongue scraping is a beneficial oral hygiene practice. This tongue scraper is a thin, flat piece of copper metal that bends into a “U” shape and helps remove bacteria, food debris, and dead skin cells from the surface of the tongue. This ritual is traditionally performed in the morning to remove the residue that formed during the night. We recommend accompanying it with a mouth rinse with coconut or sesame oil such as oil pulling.
Improve bad breath
This simple practice is a direct way to detoxify the body, as daily tongue scraping removes any buildup that if left untreated can lead to bad breath and a significant amount of bacteria. The white coating that we find in the morning can be the result of an inadequate diet, poor digestion or a reflection of an imbalance in some part of the digestive system: The tongue is a mirror of the body’s organs and a daily look can give us an idea of our general state of health. We know that there are more than 600 species of microbes in the mouth, including bacteria, fungi, and more. Some are helpful and others can cause illness. Therefore, it is necessary to take care of oral hygiene, to prevent an imbalance of these bacteria that causes inflammation or long-term diseases.
Improved taste of food
Some clinical studies show that cleaning the tongue increases the perceived intensity of the taste of salt, so it could help reduce the excessive use of salt in food. In this philosophy it is believed that this ritual can improve the ability to taste food, which makes it more satisfying.
Helps promote good digestion
Tongue scraping also activates the production of saliva which can help with digestion throughout the day.
Helps maintain a good oral hygine
Good oral hygiene is essential as this can help maintain a proper balance of bacteria in the oral cavity. We know that the microbiome consists of “good” and “bad” bacteria, the latter can cause diseases responsible for periodontal problems, plaque build-up, tooth decay, gum infections and gum recession, making it a good promoter of the general health of the teeth and gums.
How to use
- First thing in the morning on an empty stomach
- Brush your teeth and floss them to help remove food residues, follow this by the tongue scraper.
- Scrape your tongue by simply holding the two ends of the scraper with both hands, sticking your tongue out and placing the scraper as far back on your tongue as comfortably possible. Using firm but gentle pressure, scrape the surface of the tongue in a long, back-and-forth motion.
- Rinse the tongue scraper with water
- Repeat until you feel the tongue is clean enough
