Updated October 31, 2022

Tongue scraping is ancient ayurvedic (Indian) hygenic technique that removes debris from the deep crevices between the taste buds of the tongue. While many of us brush our tongues, using a metal or wood tongue scraper removes far more debris. Quality stainless steel tongue scrapers are less than $5.

Even if your tongue looks perfectly pink and without a coating, tongue scraping will bring out all sorts of stuff. While the debris is usually white, it can also be pinkish, yellowish, and be thin or thick. I’ve looked at some of the debris under the microscope, and while not seeing any obvious microbes, there are lots of unidentified things in it. At the least, plaque-causing bacteria lives in the tongue.

It is best used in conjunction with  the mouthwash, oil pulling, and brushing with baking soda. Since the upper teeth often enter the maxillary sinuses, using a sniffer can be an essential part of healing the skull.

---

Tongue Scraping Instructions

1. If you don’t yet have a tongue scraper, you can use any non-sharp edge such as a butter knife.
2. Start at the back of the tongue, and with firm pressure scrape the tongue moving forward.
3. You can do this several times, going further back, and also getting both sides of the tongue.
4. This can be done before or after brushing (a research project?), once a day or more.
5. Be sure to clean off the scraper with water (or mouthwash) before the debris dries.