Clear the bacteria off your tongue
A healthy balance of bacteria in your upper respiratory tract may help prevent infections, including COVID-19. Scraping removes harmful bacteria that can cause infection and inflammation, which can help keep your microbiome healthy (opens in a new tab).
Done every day, it can also freshen your breath by removing the bacteria that cause bad breath, aid digestion, and help prevent cavities and gum disease.
The research
6 papers chosen for this practice, each with its source and summary. After them, every study in the database that mentions tongue scraping.
Oral hygiene: a history of tongue scraping and brushing (opens in a new tab)
Tongue scraping and brushing have been practiced for centuries in various cultures, and recent research has shown that it is important for oral hygiene as plaque-forming streptococcal counts increase tenfold after a week of not brushing the tongue.
Key points
- Tongue scraping and brushing have been practiced for centuries in many parts of the world.
- Tongue scrapers have been made of various materials throughout history.
- Recent scientific research has renewed interest in tongue cleaning.
- Evidence has shown that plaque-forming streptococcal counts increased tenfold after a week of not brushing the tongue.
The study compared the effects of tongue scraping and tongue brushing on plaque levels in children and found that both methods were effective in reducing plaque, with no significant difference in effectiveness between the two.
Key points
- Tongue scraping and tongue brushing are effective in reducing plaque levels in children when performed along with tooth brushing.
- Both tongue scraping and tongue brushing groups exhibited statistically significant reductions in plaque scores when baseline values were compared with post-treatment values after days 10 and 21.
- Intergroup comparisons revealed that there were no statistically significant differences in plaque scores between the three groups at baseline.
- The reductions in plaque scores in the study occurred in addition to the effects of twice daily tooth brushing.
Tongue Scraping: 5 Benefits, Side Effects, Using a Spoon, and More (opens in a new tab)
Tongue scraping is a quick and effective way to remove bacteria and debris from the tongue, which can improve oral health and reduce bad breath.
Key points
- Tongue scraping removes extra particles from the surface of your tongue, including the ones that cause bad breath.
- Using a tongue scraper can improve your sense of taste, remove bacteria, improve overall health, and reduce bad breath.
- Tongue scraping can’t replace brushing your teeth, but it may be more effective than brushing at removing odor-causing bacteria.
- To perform tongue scraping, you’ll need a tongue scraper, which can be made from plastic or metal.
- Other ways to improve your oral health include using fluoride-based toothpaste and mouthwash, brushing and flossing regularly, drinking plenty of water, and avoiding tobacco products.
- See your dentist right away if you’re dealing with chronic dry mouth or have a “hairy tongue.”
Tongue scraping: Possible benefits and how to do it (opens in a new tab)
Tongue scraping may help prevent bad breath and improve oral hygiene, but research on its benefits is mixed and it should not be the only approach to oral health.
Key points
- Tongue scraping may help prevent bad breath by removing odor-causing substances called volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs).
- Research on tongue scraping and bad breath is mixed, with some studies showing improvement in oral hygiene and others showing weak and unreliable evidence.
- Tongue scraping may also reduce potentially harmful bacteria in the mouth that could cause cavities, gingivitis, or mouth ulcers.
- Tongue scraping is relatively easy to perform and requires minimal equipment.
- Tongue scraping is a painless and low-risk procedure, but if it causes pain or bleeding, the person should stop using the scraper.
- Tongue scraping should not be the only approach to oral health and should be combined with daily mouth care, such as brushing teeth twice daily, flossing, limiting sugar intake, and seeing a dentist regularly.
Tongue Scraping: What to Know (opens in a new tab)
Tongue scraping can help improve oral hygiene and may have some health benefits, but it is not necessary for good dental hygiene and should be done in conjunction with brushing, flossing, and regular dental visits.
Key points
- Tongue scraping is the process of running a simple tool across your tongue to remove bacteria, food particles, and other debris from the surface.
- Regular tongue scraping could improve bad breath, enhance taste, and lessen cavities.
- Tongue scraping is safe if you do it correctly.
- There are different types of tongue scrapers available, such as brush tongue scrapers, plastic tongue scrapers, and metal tongue scrapers.
- Tongue scraping is not necessary for good dental hygiene, but it can be a helpful addition to your routine.
What Is Tongue Scraping, How to Do It and Does It Work? (opens in a new tab)
Tongue scraping, a practice dating back at least 2,000 years, offers several health benefits, including fresher breath and better taste, by removing bacteria, food particles, dead cells, and debris that can build up on the tongue.
Key points
- Tongue scraping removes bacteria, food particles, dead cells and debris that can build up around the papillae on the tongue.
- Tongue scraping can be done with metal or plastic tongue scrapers, which are available for purchase online or at your local drugstore.
- Tongue scraping may be especially useful for those with a coated tongue, which is a buildup of bacteria or dead cells that gives the tongue a white, yellow or brown appearance.
- Tongue scraping offers several health benefits, such as fewer cavities, fresher breath and better sense of taste.
- Tongue scraping is safe and provides several oral health benefits when done properly.
- Tongue scraping can promote the oral microbiome and improve the production of nitric oxide, an essential molecule that plays an important role in the cardiovascular system.