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The Ancient (and Helpful!) Art of Tongue Scraping

May 9, 2014 | Oral Care Routine

It’s easy to get caught thinking about only the teeth and gums when you hear the phrase “oral health.” And it’s also easy to focus on these two areas during your dental care routine. But the tongue is part of the equation as well, and tongue scraping is an effective practice that should be a part of everyone’s routine. This post is meant to serve as your tongue-scraping guide. Have a read and let us know what you think.

A Long History and New Technology

The Ayurvedic system of medicine – begun in India over 5000 years ago – was the first to extoll the virtues of tongue scraping as a way to rid the body of toxins.

An image showing a toothbrush, dental floss, mouth wash, and tongue scrapers.

Adding tongue scraping to your morning routine can have major health benefits.

Today, several types of scrapers are available at pharmacies, grocery stores, and health food stores. They are inexpensive and come in either stainless steel or plastic varieties. Quick tip: the stainless steel versions last longer and are easier to clean.

Technique

We recommend adding the following quick process to your daily morning routine:

  1. Using gentle pressure, scrape from the back or base of the tongue using one long stroke, until you have scraped the whole surface. Go back as far as you feel comfortable.
  2. Rinse the scraper and begin again.
  3. Continue until the tongue feels clean and free of coating.

Benefits

Studies have shown four amazing benefits:

  1. Reduced bad breath: Your tongue plays host to the bacteria that help cause bad breath, so giving it a scrub, or using a tongue scraper daily, can help reduce these odor-causing compounds.
  2. Reduced chance of developing dental caries & gum disease: the bacteria that you remove from your tongue are responsible for things like periodontal problems, plaque build-up, tooth decay, gum infections, gum recession, and even loss of teeth.
  3. Improved ability to taste: Removing build-up on your tongue will better expose your taste buds.
  4. Cold prevention: Removing toxins from your tongue and from your body will improve overall health and the immune system.

For More Information

We’re always on the lookout for ways to help our Jacksonville patient families improve their oral health. Please feel free to contact us if you’d like to discuss tongue scraping or any other oral health topic.