The Latest Research on Tongue Scraping

Tongue scraping has been around for centuries but has become popular more recently, and for good reason! A sister to oil pulling, the ancient Ayurvedic practice of tongue scraping helps to remove bad bacteria from your mouth, improving oral hygiene and promoting healthy teeth and gums. It's also just satisfying to scrape away all that gunk and have a clean-feeling mouth!

Why clean your tongue?

Tongue cleaning is an ancient Ayurvedic practice based on the idea that good oral health is essential to the entire body's wellbeing. A build up of bad, gunky bacteria on the surface of the tongue can cause bad breath and too much soft plaque, which can lead to tooth decay. Even if you clean your tongue with your toothbrush, you aren't removing the micro-organisms properly, as these can only be scraped off with a solid, rigid surface rather than soft bristles.¹ According to Dr Tungs, 50% of the bacteria found in our mouths is actually found on the surface of our tongues, which people often don't realise needs to be cleaned as well!

What are the benefits of tongue cleaning?

An inexpensive practice, tongue cleaning could save you some time and money on dentist visits, helping to reduce the build up of harmful bacteria in the mouth. A study by the Journal of Periodontology found that approximately 85% of all cases of bad breath originate from the mouth, with half of these caused specifically by tongue residues. A toothbrush only removes 45% of bacteria, while a tongue scraper can remove up to 75%. Poor oral hygiene and excessive bacteria build up can also compromise the immune system, so keeping your tongue clean ensures your other parts of your body stay healthy too.² Removing soft plaque from the tongue's surface also reduces the risk of tooth decay by minimising the amount of plaque formed in the mouth. Fewer cavities means fewer trips to the dentist! Need more convincing? Check out my other post on tongue cleaning here.

Which tongue cleaner do I recommend?

Dr Tung's Tongue Cleaner
A bestselling tongue cleaner, the Dr Tung's Tongue Cleaner is made from stainless steel and features a curved edge design to help remove bacteria and plaque on the tongue's surface. This effective design gently places pressure on the tongue, providing a wholistic Ayurvedic benefit of stimulating taste buds as well as removing the bacteria which causes bad breath. Easy to use, begin scraping from the back of your tongue, pulling it gently all the way forward to remove plaque. Rinse scraper after use, and use twice daily for maximum benefits. This scraper is best used before you brush your teeth.

¹The Huffington Post, ²The Mayo Clinic. Journal of Applied Oral Sciences, Journal of Periodontology