From the Archives : Do you clean your tongue? {Oral Hygiene}

I wanted to talk about how to detox your body and then, I came across an article which said that tongue cleaning was a habit which has been carried out since centuries and it actually has a great importance for our body according to Ayurveda.

I was a little surprised to read that because I had always thought of it as a habit which has to be carried daily after we brush our teeth and I thought its importance was limited only to hygienic purposes. But, what I came to learn about was that it is one of the ways to help our body get rid of toxins. 

The question which pops to our minds is How?
During our sleep, body gets rid of all the toxins in our body, right. So, how do all these toxins get out of our body? Sweat, urination or excretion. Yes. But, some of the toxins also get deposited as a film on our tongue. So comes the ritual of tongue scraping in the morning to remove this film of toxins.

The bacteria present in these toxins are also the cause of bad breath. And, they prevent our taste buds from getting a proper taste of the food. How? Because, they get deposited continuously and if not cleaned, the deposits can become pretty thick and the food we eat is not actually tasted by our taste buds.

Ultimately, we do not get the feeling of satiety which the taste buds trigger to the brain because taste buds do not know that we are eating. So, we end up overeating and gaining weight in the process. So, I hope you realize how important it is for us to clean our tongues everyday.

Now, how do you clean your tongue? Using a plastic tongue scraper or your brush? Well, both of the methods are not advisable. Plastic is not good for health and the brush actually does not clean the tongue. It just disturbs the bacteria and sometimes, the bacteria can begin breeding in the brush too which is definitely not good for your dental health.

So, you should use a tongue scraper made of stainless steel or brass to avoid toxicity from metals. Be gentle while using the scraper but firmly remove the debris from your mouth. Hold the scraper on both sides and place it at the back of the tongue near the tonsils and start scraping from there. Repeat the movements 5 times. Clean the scraper properly and disinfect it occasionally using baking soda.

Today's Lesson: Detox your body by making tongue scraping a habit. 

So, do you clean your tongue?

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mint-o-ultramintz Sugar Free Mints {Product Review}

Well, I have to start with the personalized packaging. It is so amazing! I was impressed with its packaging when I found the small box lying in the luxurious satin! You can always reuse the packaging for your jewelery. And, the smaller box containing the mints is very practical and hygienic since one doesn't have to expose all the mints while taking one and there is no wrapper business or anything else to take care of!

After popping one of these pellets, I liked it! But, the chill pill which they talk about comes only when you take 4-5 at least together. Then, I felt those close up ads would so suit this product but the only difference is when the guys opens his mouth to let the girl feel the freshness of his breath, the girl should probably be covered under layers of snow instead! Yes, 4-5 mints collectively have the power of an arctic tundra. And, if you drink water over it, its like an avalanche in your throat :D (ohk, I know I am exaggerating but hey isn't the idea of ad a little too much?)

Anyways coming back to the product, it says it has premium quality peppermint imported from France. Well, I do have peppermint essential oil and the mint smells exactly the same. In case you are wondering, no. The essential oil I have is not imported as far as I am aware unless kama actually does that! But, you get the gist, right?

Jokes apart, I did like the mints. They give a very fresh feeling for a long time. And, I love flicking the cover of the box. It's very Victorian, the only difference being the English used to carry snuff in the snuff boxes and we carry mints ;-) Aah and each box has around 60 pellets so you are good to go for around a month without bothering to refill! Easily portable as it should be and you can keep multiple with you - one in your car, one in your purse and one beside your bed stand. 

And, I have to add the point that I hate chewing gums to freshen up my breath because they have a lot of sugar and after all sugary juice is over, it leaves a very nasty taste in the mouth! And, then, you have to remove the gum from the mouth and throw it which is like really gross! But, guess what, this mint is sugar-free. Anyways, I am not easily satisfied with such claims so I researched the ingredients (yeah, ok, I checked out the wiki!).

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Ingredients

Sorbitol, Magnesium Stearate and Sucralose

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Sorbitol - is generally used in all sugar-free gums!

Magnesium Stearate - It creates the tablet.

Sucralose - is an artificial sweetener and does not broken down in the body leading to no added calories! 

So, at the end, I would just like to add that excess of these mints is really not good because for one, you should not depend on any product and for second, the ingredients do lead to a bit of complication if there is an overdose of the mints in the body.

What do you say? Have you tried these mints?

PS : I am reviewing mint-o Ultramintz as a part of the Product Reviews Program at BlogAdda. 

Grooming Lessons Vol. 4 - Breezy Breaths OR not so much!

Ok, so this is one of the major social faux pas one can ever make! So, be always careful about how you are smelling, orally or physically! Carrying a sample perfume bottle and a handy mouthwash or spray is a very good idea. Let me talk about dental health today.

Be sure to check your breath after the meal

Please do not forget to ditch those onions in your midday meal even if you love them! I know this sounds so obvious but people who love onions tend to forget that the other person talking to them has to bear that smell even if they are standing a meter away from you.

Are you brushing your teeth correctly?

Ok, many people do not really pay attention to how they brush! You should brush your teeth vertically with quick strokes instead of horizontal brushing. I remember the countless times my dad used to comment on my method of brushing till the time he approved of it!

Flossing might be a good idea!

Flossing instead of brushing is a better way to get rid of bacteria and cavities issue. So, take 5 minutes out of your time and give a nice floss to your teeth. That helps in promoting gum health also.

Scrape your tongue!

If you are brushing right and flossing regularly and still have breath issues, get a tongue scraper. The bacteria and the germs which thrive on the moist tongue are more often the culprit of bad breath. In Ayurveda, it is said that tongue should be scraped every morning after brushing to detox the body.

Pull that Oil

I told you some days back that I had started oil pulling. I can safely say that though it is not exactly my favorite task of the day, it makes my teeth clean, white and tends to keep the bad breath away by removing the oral bacteria and germs.

So, always be aware of how your breath smells, even if you have just snacks or coffee breaks! And, don't forget to simply rinse your mouth after every meal, small or large.

So, do you take care of your breath? Do you use any breath fresheners?

PS: Image copyrights belong to the original owners. I do not claim any ownership.

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Ayurvedic tips I have incorporated in my daily routine! {Health}

Have you ever tried Ayurveda in your daily routine? I did it. It had started with one day my mom telling me to wash my eyes with the triphala infusion. She had seen it on some program which imparts the ayurvedic tips for healthy living. And, then, some other tip came and then something else! And, on and on.

But then how many things can you incorporate in the routine so I just left it at that. But, these tips were something which were not so intrusive and could be followed easily. And, their benefits were too good to pass up. I have been doing these things on and off for the past one month or more. And, I can talk about the benefits I have seen in my skin or hair or body!

Triphala Eye Wash

Every morning right after I get up, I wash my eyes with the triphala infusion. And, the results?

Brighter eyes, clearer eyes, whites are more prominent, eyes do not get dry, they do not get tired of staring at the laptop, and the best is yet to come - lesser finer lines under the eyes :D The infusion hydrates the skin there and makes it moisturized so that helps with lesser wrinkles and fine lines. Of course, moisturizer and sunscreen do their part as well :)

How to make infusion?

Take a 1/2 tbsp of triphala powder in a glass and dissolve it in glassful of water. Leave it overnight. Strain the morning and use it as eyewash.

I have to warn you here that this infusion stains the washbasin and where it falls so when you are washing your eyes, get either eye wash cups or do something to prevent spilling.

Almond Oil Nose Drops

This has to be done just before dozing off!! Just a drop of almond oil in both of your nostrils and you are good to doze off into deeper realms. Results?

Amazingly this helps with headaches, helps you sleep better, greases your air pipe and the nostrils, cleans them of any dirty things and the list is actually quite long. But, the main thing is deep and calm sleep for me and lesser headaches.

How to use?

Get a bottle of Badam Rogan and a dropper from the pharmacy. And, that is it. Keep them by your bedside and do not forget to use them.

Oil Pulling

This has to be the most heavy tip I have incorporated in my routine. And, I think it is difficult given that you have to take a tablespoon of oil in your mouth right after you get up and swish it for 20 minutes before throwing it off. And, yeah, the first time you do it, you WILL surely gag! Results?

I am not sure if I really saw any benefits till now but I think its a routine which does not show the benefits immediately or even in the long run. The benefits are more internal and not visible. It sure does make my teeth more white and cleanse out the cough and phlegm from the body. Swishing for 20 minutes surely makes me feel wide awake but I doubt if it was supposed to be one of its benefits :D

How to do it?

Traditionally, sesame oil is used for this method. I use coconut oil, though. Take a table spoon and swish it all around the mouth gently without making your jaw hurt and then it will turn watery and foamy by the end of 20 minutes when you can spit it out. Rinse your mouth with salt water, preferably mineral or rock salts not the table salt. And, brush. Yes, it has to be done before brushing your teeth and on empty stomach right after you get up.

The benefits are multi-varied. First, it is a detoxification ritual for the body. The oil pulls all the toxins and turns watery and foamy because of them. That is also the reason why you should not ingest even a bit of that oil and throw it all off and cleanse your mouth properly. Second, I think it is extremely helpful for people with respiratory issues as it helps clean the mucus canal and improves sinusitis issues and if you are suffering from cold, you can do this to get rid of the phlegm. It is also great to maintain the healthy teeth and gums and oral care. It helps prevent bad breath.

That's it for me now. If I include any more tips in my daily routine, I shall surely let you know :)

And, what about you? Do you practice ayurveda in your daily routines? Do you find them beneficial?

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