Kissing with confidence - and the Kama Sutra

When we kiss it is difficult to disassociate ourselves from it as we can with other intimate acts as it is so connects with all of our senses - smell, taste, touch, sight, hearing etc

One of the greatest turn-offs, then, is bad breath

Stick your tongue out and say....arrrgh!

According to Ayurvedic medicine, ( meaning the 'science of life' in Sanskrit) 80% of bad breath originates in the mouth. The tongue takes up much of the area in your mouth and yet gets the least attention.

It has a thick mucous coating that contains food debris and harbours countless bacteria that putrefy, and produces foul-smelling sulphur gasses that cause not only bad breath but sore throats, tooth decay, gum disease, poor digestion, other infections and even sluggishness and lethargy.

This coating does not dislodge during swallowing, mouth rinses or chewing gum.

The universal phenomena of early morning breath occurs as a result of slower activity of the salivary glands during the night that then creates a stagnant pond effect in the mouth.

Other causes of bad breath may be due to hunger, anyone on a low carbohydrate, high protein diet (Atkins dieters' friends can vouch for this!) gum disease, smoking, stress, side effects of medication, eating sulphur-rich foods such as onions, suffering sinus or throat infections or more serious digestive, liver or diabetic disorders.

Mmmmmmmmmm Kama Sutra!

Cleaning the tongue daily has been a basic ritual in Eastern cultures for thousands of years but seems to have passed by the hygiene-obsessed Western cultures.

There are references to tongue cleaning not just for daily hygiene but also as an essential and a precursor in the art of seduction, kissing and making love in the Kama Sutra.

According to research, bad breath is the No 1 turn off not only in sexual interaction but also social situations with colleagues and friends. You cannot say that you have never had your eyebrows frazzled by a dragon-breathed ogre from accounts, dreaded being stuck in a lift with them or withered at the thought of working with them!

Breath fresheners, mouth washes and chewing gum are essential purchases on most weekly shopping lists and yet these provide fresh breath for only 30 to 90 minutes.

Children may be taught to brush a certain way by parents and dentists but rarely taught to scrape the tongue. Even most Asian cultures which have a long tradition of tongue cleaning as basic daily mouth hygiene practice, may not be passing this essential skill to their children.

Tongue cleaning has become all the rage amongst the health-conscious Californians in the US, in particular, with specialist clinics being set up in Los Angeles.

There is even one account of a famous film star who was ordered by the director of his next film to get his tongue cleaned because his leading lady saw his furry tongue and refused to do a kissing scene with him!

Benefits of Tongue Scraping:

1. Decreases build up of plaque and bacteria in the mouth.
2. Cleans and massages the tastebuds, as layers of gunk are peeled off you will be able to fully taste and enjoy the subtle flavours of your food.
3. Creates fresher breath without requiring expensive mouth fresheners, mints and gum.
4. Activates the digestive process through the act of rubbing the tongue with the scraper.
5. You can kiss with confidence!
6. Destroys toxic fungi, bacteria and debris.
7. Assists the detoxification process.
8. Exercises and massages the tongue, thereby assisting digestive health

Cleaning your tongue

First thing in the morning, get into the habit of looking in the mirror ( if you dare) and stick out your tongue as far as you can and say 'ahhhh' whilst observing the colour, thickness of the 'coat' and the region right at the back of the tongue.

As time goes on you will be able to judge the subtle differences on the tongue and adjust your eating that day to take care of your digestion - if you ate high fat foods the day before there may be a firmer, thicker coat so ease off the fats that day.

After flossing and brushing your teeth hold the scraper and start at the front tip of the tongue. Work in short, gentle but firm strokes towards the end of the tongue. Rinse the scraper after a number of strokes and keep cleaning.

Gagging for it....

Scraping the back of the tongue may take getting used to as most people automatically gag or retch - this is fine as it assists in dislodging phlegm from the back of the tongue and throat which you then just spit out.

Keep cleaning and rinsing the scraper and working your way up to the back of the tongue until the tongue is shiny, luscious and pink!

Rinse the scraper in hot soapy water and dry, keep by your toothbrush for next use.

Clean your tongue twice a day for optimum freshness and health. Once you have cleaned your tongue in this way you will never forget to do it ever again.

Don't have a tongue scraper?

If a tongue scraper is not available some people will use a toothbrush.

This is fine once in a while but the brush is not a very good scraper as it seems to embed the gunk further into the tiny grooves of the tongue and just moves the bacteria around rather than removing it.

A teaspoon is a better alternative. Put the spoon in your mouth as if you are eating off it, then turn it over so that the tip of the spoon acts as a scraper and clean the tongue as usual.

Please don't eat your cereal with the same spoon!

Plastic tongue scrapers are available in some health stores and most recently in the larger chemists and are reasonably priced at around £3.99.

Finally, according to the 'dating doctor' instead of shoving your tongue down someone's throat, kiss as if you are gently learning how the other person likes to be kissed.