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The Ancient Practice of Tongue Scraping

by Laura Burkett-Holstine, HHC

Laura Burkett, HHC Brush your teeth. Floss. Use mouthwash. Rinse. But scrape your tongue?

If you are unfamiliar with a tongue scraper, this tool is typically a thin, U-shaped piece of stainless steel. It has blunted edges that remove build up from the surface of your tongue that brushing alone may not remove. The simple act of scraping can help remove bacteria from the mouth and prevent bad breath.

Scraping the tongue comes from the ancient tradition of Ayurveda that asserts people who do this are better public speakers and express themselves more thoughtfully, sincerely, and authoritatively.

Better yet, cravings can be reduced with the use of a tongue scraper. Remnants of subtle flavors may remain on the tongue even after brushing causing cravings for similar foods. So if you indulge in a slice of pizza or two or a sugary treat, practice tongue scraping to help prevent urges for more the next day (or the next hour!).

By cleansing the palate regularly, subtle tastes in fruits, vegetables, and grains may be better detected making a whole foods diet even more enjoyable and requiring less salt, sugar, or seasonings to satisfy your taste buds.
And finally, a big advantage is it enhances kissing because the tongue becomes more sweet, fresh, and sensitive. See for yourself!

How scrape your tongue:

Apply a few quick strokes a couple times a day, or after brushing your teeth
Use the rounded edge to gently scrape downward with slight pressure
Rinse residue and scrape again until no residue remains
If you gag, you’ve gone too far back!

Clients who I’ve had use a tongue scraper for the first time are amazed by all the “stuff” just sitting on their tongue, even after brushing. If tongue scraping interests you, I encourage you to take note of stronger sensitivity to subtle flavors in simple foods, notice differences in residue depending on what you’ve been consuming lately, and take note of other changes by stealing a smooch here or there (strictly for experimental purposes, of course!).