woman holding up peace sign with tongue out

Yeah, we know. It sounds disgusting, but tongue scraping truly is all that it’s hyped up to be. This Ayurvedic ritual is beneficial for oral hygiene and removing bacteria, food debris, fungi, toxins, and dead cells, but it is also beneficial to overall health and self-care.

Why do you need a tongue scraper?

Even while we’re sleeping our digestive system is working. The digestive system removes toxins from the body and deposits them onto the tongue. If you don’t use a tongue scraper to get rid of these toxins, they get reabsorbed back into the body and can lead to respiratory problems, digestive issues, and a weak immune system.

Why can’t I just use my toothbrush?

Research has shown that using a tongue scraper is more effective for removing toxins than using a toothbrush. Brushing and flossing are of course necessary for oral hygiene, but they don’t actually remove any bacteria from the tongue. A tongue scraper is able to remove almost all of the bacteria from your tongue. Besides, who wants a white, yellow, or green tongue? Gross.

Beauty is about how you smell too

Nobody likes bad breath, and it’s even worse when you’re the one who has it. Think brushing your teeth is going to get rid of that bad breath? Think again. Bad breath comes from the bacteria at the back of the tongue—a spot that’s tough to clean with a toothbrush. Tongue scraping reduces and removes oral bacteria from all areas of the tongue to avoid bad breath.

Food will become more enjoyable

Did you know that the bacteria on your tongue can prevent you from really tasting your food? Remove the mucus on the tongue so that your taste buds don’t get blocked. This can even help with avoiding false cravings because you will know longer have the taste of something you indulged in on your tongue.

So how do I scrape my tongue?

Every morning, on an empty stomach, perform your tongue scraping ritual. Hold the two ends of the scraper in both hands and stick out your tongue. Place the scraper as far back on your tongue as you can reach. Use firm, but gentle, pressure to scrape the surface of the tongue in one long stroke. Rinse the scraper and repeat until your tongue feels clean and free of coating—this can take up to 5-10 times.

Where do I find a tongue scraper?

Make sure to get a copper tongue scraper to balance all Ayurvedic constitutions and imbalances. Tongue scrapers are inexpensive, but if you’re in a pinch you can always use a spoon.

Advertisement