Should You Drink Water Before or After Tongue Scraping?

A Clinician’s Guide to the Correct Morning Routine According to Ayurveda & Modern Science

By Dr Akanksha Bhardwaj, Ayurvedic Practitioner (BAMS) | NHS Healthcare Consultant

Why the Tongue Matters in Ayurveda and Modern Clinical Understanding

According to Ayurveda, the tongue reflects the state of Agni (digestive strength) and the presence of Ama (metabolic toxins resulting from inefficient digestion). Overnight, this Ama accumulates on the tongue as a coating that can vary in thickness and colour depending on an individual’s constitution and health status.

While Western medicine typically focuses on the oral cavity for dental hygiene, emerging research increasingly supports what Ayurveda has stated for millennia: the tongue coating can influence oral microbiome balance, digestive signaling, taste perception, and overall gut health. Tongue scraping - Jihwa Prakshalana is a structured Ayurvedic intervention designed to gently remove these deposits, thereby supporting both oral and systemic health.

Clinical and Ayurvedic Benefits of Tongue Scraping

1. Improved Oral Hygiene

Regular tongue scraping reduces microbial load, decreases volatile sulphur compounds (the main contributors to halitosis), and supports a healthier oral microbiome. From both an Ayurvedic and biomedical lens, this contributes to a cleaner oral environment.

2. Enhanced Digestive Function

Clearing the tongue in the morning prevents the re-ingestion of Ama. In Ayurveda, this supports Agni and reduces systemic burden. Clinically, it promotes better taste reception and digestive signaling.

3. Sharper Taste Perception

Removing the coating allows taste buds to function optimally, improving the sensory phase of digestion, which plays a foundational role in appetite regulation and digestive enzyme activation.

4. Support for Systemic Detoxification

While tongue scraping is not a detox in the modern marketing sense, it does assist in preventing the accumulation of oral-derived toxins, aligning with Ayurveda’s emphasis on lightening the daily metabolic load.

How to Practice Tongue Scraping Correctly

When I share this traditional sequence today, I’m often asked:

“Won’t drinking water first make us swallow the Ama on the tongue?”

It’s a valid question, but it’s based on a misunderstanding of what Ama actually is, how it behaves, and how Ayurveda distinguishes between different forms of metabolic waste. This article clarifies the correct morning sequence according to classical Ayurvedic texts, explains it through modern physiology, and clears up common misconceptions so you can follow a routine that is both authentically Ayurvedic and clinically sound.

Understanding Ama: The Key to the Morning Routine

Ayurveda recognises that Ama is not a single, uniform substance. Instead, it varies based on its composition, solubility, and location in the body. To understand the morning routine, you must understand these two relevant types:

1. Lipid-Soluble (Oily/Sticky) Ama - Seen on the Tongue

• Thick, sticky, dense

• Adheres to mucosa and channels

• Accumulates on the tongue as a coating

• Requires mechanical removal (tongue scraping)

• Water cannot dissolve it

  
  

This is the Ama involved in Jihwa Prakshalana (tongue scraping), described in classical Dinacharya texts.

2. Water-Soluble Ama - Present in the Gut & Systemic Circulation

• Loose, mobile, and responsive to heat

• Mobilised by warm water

• Eliminated through the bowels and kidneys

• The primary target of Ushapana (drinking warm water upon waking)

  
  

Classical texts repeatedly emphasise that warm water liquefies and mobilises Ama, supporting Agni (digestive fire) and elimination.

So, Does Drinking Water Make You Swallow Ama From the Tongue?

No. And here’s why:

The Ama on the tongue is lipophilic, meaning it clings to fats and oils -not water. Warm water does not dissolve it, dislodge it, or carry it inward. This is why classical Ayurveda prescribes two separate interventions:

• Warm water → for water-soluble Ama

• Tongue scraping/Oil pulling → for lipid-soluble Ama

  
  

They serve different functions and target different types of waste.

The Correct Ayurvedic Morning Routine (Dinacharya) According to Classical Texts

Ayurvedic texts such as Ashtanga Hridaya and Charaka Samhita outline a clear order:

1. Mukha Viskandana - Rinsing the Mouth

A simple water rinse upon waking removes overnight dryness and acidity.

2. Ushapana - Drinking Warm Water

Stimulates peristalsis, supports Agni, and mobilises water-soluble Ama for elimination.

3. Dantadhavana - Brushing Teeth

Traditionally done with herbal sticks or powders.

4. Jihwa Prakshalana - Tongue Scraping

Removes the sticky coating that water alone cannot dislodge.

5. Gandusha / Kavala (Optional)

Warm oil pulling rinse follows cleaning, not precedes it. Use warm sesame or coconut oil.

This sequence is not arbitrary; it is grounded in the logic of digestive physiology and detoxification mechanisms. Use warm water for the final mouth rinse to remove oil residue.

How Modern Science Supports This Sequence

1. Drinking warm water upon waking:

Modern research shows it:

• Stimulates intestinal motility

• Activates the gastrocolic reflex

• Improves bowel movement regularity

• Supports hydration after overnight fasting

• Enhances overall digestive readiness

  
  

These benefits align directly with what Ayurveda describes under Agni and Ama mobilisation.

Why This Matters

Morning routines are more than habits; they set the physiological tone for the entire day. When the sequence reflects both ancient wisdom and modern evidence, you support:

• Digestive health

• Oral microbiome balance

• Toxin elimination

• Metabolic clarity

• Nervous system regulation

• Long-term wellbeing

  
  

This integrative approach honours your roots while embracing contemporary clinical understanding.

Want to Deepen Your Wellbeing Practice?

If you’re curious about weaving Ayurveda into your lifestyle in a way that’s personalised, science-informed, and deeply grounding, I offer:

Ayurvedic Consultations (with me, Dr Akanksha)

A full 360° exploration of your digestion, hormones, lifestyle, mind-body patterns, and doshic balance, with a plan that’s practical, modern, and created uniquely for you.

Menopause Support (Ayurvedic + neuroscience-informed)

A holistic approach to reducing hot flashes, supporting sleep, regulating mood, cooling Pitta, and helping you reconnect to your body through rituals, nourishment, and sensory-based practices.

Ayurvedic Body Therapies & Rituals

From Abhyanga to Marma to Shirodhara: each treatment is a blend of ancient technique, nervous system calming, and soulful restoration.

Conclusion: Embracing Holistic Well-Being

Incorporating these practices into your morning routine can profoundly impact your overall health. By honouring both Ayurvedic traditions and modern scientific insights, we can create a harmonious balance that nurtures our bodies and minds. Let us embark on this journey together, embracing the wisdom of the past while moving forward with purpose and intention.

Free Discovery Call

15min

Book Now