Tongue Scraping: The Unsung Hero of Oral Health?

The origins of the ‘tongue scraper’ date back to ancient times in India, but these nifty devices have recently been resurrected to gain a whole lot of traction in the modern Western world. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the idea of the tongue scraper is to promote fresh breath and good oral hygiene – two things that many people consider high priorities when it comes to relationships, self-esteem and general health.

Think about it for a moment: we brush our teeth, we floss our gums – why shouldn’t good oral health entail paying attention to our tongue, too? With their soft, spongey textures, our tongues can be one of the best breeding grounds for oral bacteria, so it only makes sense to keep them as clean as possible.

How does a tongue scraper work?

It’s as easy as you think – you simply use a small metal tool to scrape all the gunk off your tongue. Ideally, a tongue scraper is used once every day, first thing in the morning on an empty stomach.

All you have to do is hold the two ends of the scraper in both hands, extend your tongue, place the scraper as far back on the surface of your tongue as feels comfortable, then gently pull the device forward. Rinse and repeat as necessary – we recommend between 7-14 times. Ensure you aren’t overly aggressive with your scraping motion, as this could cause gagging, vomiting, or temporary damage to your tastebuds.

What’s the point of it?

When used daily, the benefits of tongue scraping are wide-encompassing:

• Removes the coating from your tongue that often causes bad breath
• Helps eradicate food particles that haven’t been digested and are left lingering in your mouth
• Helps combat plaque build-up from forming on your teeth
• Enhances your sense of taste
• Aids in promoting digestive health
• Massages and awakes the internal organs
• Banishes bacteria and clears toxins from the tongue

How do I know if a tongue scraper is for me?

To put it simply, anyone with a tongue is a valid candidate for a tongue scraper and can yield fantastic benefits from daily use. The key profit that comes with tongue scraping is the elimination of toxins from your body, which can present themselves in a myriad of ways: from foul-smelling breath to body odour, generalised body aches, diminished appetite and diarrhea.

By introducing a hearty tongue scrape into your daily routine, you can start the day fresh and clean.