Brushing your teeth isn't something you think that much about; it should be an integral part of your morning and nighttime routine. But lately, I've been waking up in the morning [1] feeling a desperate need to brush my teeth, and I started to look into some solutions to maintain my oral health and hygiene beyond just brushing and flossing. One of the things I kept hearing about was tongue scraping, and when the barista at my local coffee shop couldn't stop raving about it, I saw it as a sign that I had to give it a try.

I ordered the Natural Ayurvedic Tongue Cleaner by Spa Elevation [2] ($9) and it has kind of changed my life. I use it every morning after I've brushed my teeth, and my whole mouth feels cleaner. The design is pretty straightforward; you simply hold it on each side and scrape from the back of your mouth forwards. This daily practice [3] has also inspired me to brush my teeth and clean my tongue first thing in the morning. If I take a sip of water or eat something before I've brushed my teeth, then I'm essentially swallowing all of the bacteria I'm trying to get rid of, and that doesn't make any sense.

When purchasing this tongue cleaner, I had no idea how much it would alter my daily routine. Now, I can't imagine waking up and not cleaning my tongue, and I'm even considering buying a second one to keep in my travel cosmetics case so I never forget it. It's an awesome jump-start to my day [4], and an easy way to prioritise your health in the morning. Seriously, what are you waiting for?!