Tongue Scraping: What Is It And Should I Be Doing It?

Dentists weigh in on this increasingly common oral hygiene practice.

Many of us might be diligent about brushing our teeth, flossing and using mouthwash. But there’s another element of oral hygiene that people are less familiar with: tongue scraping.

“Tongue scraping is an oral hygiene process done to clean the bumpy surface of the tongue,” Dr. Erin Issac, a board-certified pediatric dentist, told HuffPost. “The surface of the tongue has tiny folds and fingerlike projections that can harbor food debris, bacteria and fungi causing stinky breath and even infections.”

Tongue scrapers are usually long, thin pieces of metal or plastic bent in a U shape. There are also versions that look like toothbrushes with loops at the end. Whatever style you prefer, the process is simple: Run it along the surface of your tongue to help remove the whitish or yellowish buildup.

Where does tongue scraping come from?

“It is a longstanding practice in Eastern medicine,” said Nicole Parmar, CEO and co-founder of the tongue scraper brand Gunkii. “Tongue scraping has always been very important to the ancient Indian medical system known as Ayurveda. It is based on a ‘natural’ and holistic approach to physical and mental health.”