The Benefits of Tongue Scraping & How to Do It Properly

Tongue scraping is a quick and effective way to remove debris, bacteria, and dead cells from the surface of your tongue. It has several potential benefits, including improving your sense of taste and reducing bad breath.

While tongue scraping doesn’t replace regular brushing and flossing, it can be a great addition to your daily oral hygiene routine.

Why Should You Try Tongue Scraping?

Using a tongue scraper can help with the following:

1. Improve Your Sense of Taste

Research suggests that using a tongue scraper twice daily can enhance your ability to distinguish flavors such as bitter, sweet, salty, and sour.

2. Enhance the Appearance of Your Tongue

A buildup of excess debris can cause a white, coated appearance on your tongue. Daily scraping removes this coating and helps keep your tongue clean.

3. Reduce Bacteria in Your Mouth

A 2005 study found that using a tongue scraper twice a day for seven days significantly reduced the Mutans streptococci and Lactobacilli bacteria—both known to cause bad breath and dental decay.

4. Support Overall Oral Health

Removing bacteria from the tongue can help prevent cavities, gum disease, and other oral conditions while improving the overall sensation of your tongue.

5. Combat Bad Breath

Although brushing your teeth is essential, tongue scraping may be more effective than brushing alone at removing odor-causing bacteria from your mouth.

How to Perform Tongue Scraping

Step 1: Choose a tongue scraper.

  • Options include plastic, copper, or stainless steel tongue scrapers.
  • If you don’t have one, a clean spoon or toothbrush can be used in a pinch, but they may not be as effective.

Step 2: Stand in front of a mirror and open your mouth wide.

Step 3: Gently place the rounded end of the scraper at the back of your tongue.

  • If you’re concerned about gagging, start at the middle of your tongue and work your way back gradually.

Step 4: Slowly pull the scraper forward toward the tip of your tongue.

  • Never push the scraper backward—always scrape from back to front.

Step 5: Wipe the scraper clean with a tissue or washcloth after each pass.

Step 6: Repeat 1–2 scrapes per area until your entire tongue is clean.

Step 7: Wash the tongue scraper with warm water and soap, dry it, and store it in a clean, dry place.

💡 Pro Tip: The entire process takes less than two minutes and can be repeated as needed throughout the day.

Are There Any Risks?

1. Triggering the Gag Reflex

  • Placing the scraper too far back may cause gagging.
  • Start from the middle and gradually scrape farther back as you adjust.

2. Accidental Cuts or Scrapes

  • Inspect your scraper before each use for any rough or uneven edges.
  • Apply gentle pressure to avoid harming taste buds or breaking the skin.

Try Tongue Scraping for 21 Days!

Commit to 21 days of tongue scraping and see how you feel! You may notice:
✔️ Fresher breath
✔️ Better taste perception
✔️ A cleaner tongue appearance
✔️ Improved overall oral health