Although it is possible to clean your tongue with a regular toothbrush, it is not the ideal tool for the job. In many cases, the toothbrush bristles are too soft to remove heavy debris deposits effectively and some people find it difficult to reach the rear third of the tongue with a toothbrush without gagging. Also, the soft bristles of a toothbrush tend to push debris deeper into the tongue surface rather than removing it. Tongue scrapers are designed for the sole purpose of removing food debris and bacteria from the tongue’s dorsal surface. Unlike toothbrushes, a well-designed scraper will have a low profile so the user can get them right to the back of the mouth without causing excessive gagging. Tongue cleaners are available in many shapes and sizes. Some are U-shaped and designed to be held in both hands while other models are more t-shaped and can be held in one hand. In addition, there are also attachments for electric toothbrushes and Waterpik water flossers. Although western civilizations have been slow to adopt tongue scraping, many cultures have been cleaning their tongues as part of their daily oral hygiene routine for thousands of years. Ancient Ayurvedic medicine believed that any food debris, dead cells, fungi and bacteria that collect on the tongue surface was absorbed into the body and could cause medical conditions. Ayurvedic practitioners believe that toxins from the tongue can cause a weakening of the immune system, digestive problems, weight gain, acne, flatulence and bloating. Throughout the centuries tongue scrapers made out of wood, bone, mother of pearl, copper or gold were used to improve oral hygiene and general wellness. Today’s scrapers are usually made from plastic, stainless steel or copper and are primarily used to prevent bad breath, improve dental health and improve the sense of taste. Check out our best tongue scraper guide.

1. Hold the handle of the tongue scraper, or if it is a U-shaped, hold both handles of the cleaner.
2. Start at the rear of the tongue and pull the scraper forward to the tip of the tongue with an even, moderate pressure.
3. If gagging occurs, start at one side of the tongue and drag to the opposite edge.
4. Rinse any debris off of the scraper with water.
5. Resume scraping and cover every area of the tongue with overlapping strokes. Continue until there is no residue left on the scraper on removal.
6. Rinse mouth with water or mouthwash to further cleanse mouth.
7. Once the tongue scraping process is complete, rinse and clean the scraper with water and allow to air dry.

Tips – Research has shown that using a medicinal tongue spray or gel can further enhance the tongue cleaning process.