Your tongue plays an important role in your oral health and removing the bacteria that forms there is essential. Let's take a closer look at the best tongue scraper.
Regular flossing and brushing are important to keeping your mouth healthy, but you can reap even more dental health benefits by focusing your cleaning with the best tongue scraper.
More than 700 different species of bacteria that can be found in the mouth and the tongue is exposed to as much, if not more, bacteria than the teeth.
The bacteria in your mouth is a combination of both good and bad bacteria. The good bacteria works to protect your mouth and prevent tooth decay. The bad bacteria can lead to tooth decay and disease.
Keeping this bacteria in check is important. This is where a tongue scraper comes in handy.
What are the Benefits of Tongue Scraping?
Any bacteria that lives in your mouth are absorbed by our body and our digestive system.
Studies suggest that tongue scraping can actually remove more bacteria than brushing.
Tongue scraping, a practice that dates back to early Ayurvedic texts, can eliminate toxins that have risen to the tongue’s surface, according to Ayurveda experts.
According to research, tongue scrapers can also help remove bad breath and even improve digestion.
In this article, we will review some of the best tongue scrapers that are dentist-approved and will improve your oral health.
What is a Tongue Scraper?
Usually in the form of a U-shaped strip of metal, tongue scrapers are tools used to do exactly what you'd expect: scrape debris off your tongue.
Ayurvedic medicine attaches great importance to tongue scraping for overall health and wellness.
Traditional Eastern medical practice teaches that the tongue is a road map for the entire body and that each section of the tongue corresponds to a major organ (for instance, the posterior tongue is connected to the colon, so vigorous scratching encourages, uh, let's call it the movement of the colon).
In short, it is just another super useful tool that will take your dental care routine to the next level.
Is a Metal or Plastic Tongue Scraper Better?
Both metal (copper and stainless steel) and plastic tongue scrapers have the same functions, however, the material your tongue scraper is made of can make all the difference.
Copper tongue scrapers have been used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine for centuries and for good reason. Copper is antibacterial, antimicrobial, and helps neutralize toxins.
This is why our Orgone Energy Tongue Scraper is made of 100% pure copper. Using a naturally clensing material is an easy way to increase the effectiveness of your tongue scraper.
To care for your Tongue Scraper you just need to pour a little running water on the tongue scraper to clean it. Copper tends to darken slightly with use due to oxidation like silver, but this is normal. It will shine like new again after rubbing the scraper with lemon juice.
Stainless Steel Tongue Scrapers vs Copper Tongue Scrapers
Unlike copper tongue scrapers, stainless steel tongue scrapers are not inherently antibacterial, so they should be cleaned with soap and water after use.
The steel remains the same regardless of use. On the other hand, plastic tongue scrapers are the softest of all, making them a great starting point for those new to tongue cleaning (or anyone sensitive to metal), but the downside is that they may not be so effective.
Furthermore, they are not inherently antibacterial, so they must be cleaned after each use.
Unlike plastic tongue scrapers which will wear down over time, our copper Orgone Energy Tongue Scraper will last a lifetime.
Do Tongue Scrapers Remove Bacteria?
Bacteria that build-up on the tongue can form plaque, which invariably contributes to gum disease, tooth decay, bad breath, and overall poor health.
According to a 2014 study, tongue scraping was found to reduce the number of bacteria in the coating, although it does not inhibit plaque formation.
The study concluded that tongue scraping should be done in conjunction with tooth brushing to reduce the number of bacteria in the mouth.
As Copper is antibacterial and antimicrobial, a copper tongue scraper (combined with proper tooth brushing) is even more effective at removing bacteria.
The 4 Best Tongue Scrapers
Here is our selection of the best tongue scrapers on the market.
Dr. Tung's Tongue Scraper
At first sight, Dr. Tung's Tongue Scraper looks like a contraption. Made from a single piece of U-shaped stainless steel, the scraper is placed on the back of the tongue and then pulled forward gently. It is this forward movement that cleans the top layer of the tongue, eliminating bacteria and dead skin cells.
It is small, portable, and very hygienic (stainless steel is sometimes easier to sanitize than other materials) and also has two soft-grip handles for easy handling.
While it's durable and easy to clean because of the material it's made from, it's also soft enough to get the job done neatly and efficiently.
Basic Concepts Tongue Scraper
Basic Concepts Tongue Scraper differs in style from Dr. Tung's version and features a small U-shaped scraper at the end of one handle; works like a toothbrush, and with the one-handed operation to eliminate debris on the tongue.
This scraper is crafted from medical-grade stainless steel, making it durable and convenient to clean, and they're also guaranteed against rusting.
The Basic Concepts Tongue Scraper comes in two packs so you can keep one at home and one in your travel bag, or give it to your spouse as a reminder to take care of their dental health as well.
Orgone Energy Copper Tongue Scraper
Smoking, not drinking enough water, neglecting oral hygiene, and even illness can cause small bumps on the tongue to grow larger and trap excessive dirt, making it look white.
When you are battling a bad case of white tongue, you need a tongue cleaner that can scrape thoroughly without causing additional irritation.
Orgone Energy Copper Tongue Scraper really shines in this category: crafted from copper, it is unlikely to leave a residue but is also flexible enough to twist and turn as needed, cleaning all those random grooves or cracks.
Copper tongue cleaners are an essential part of traditional Ayurvedic medicine due to their inherent antimicrobial properties.
While the handles don't have grips around them, they are rounded, which helps you maintain control and makes it easy to adjust the width to suit your mouth and tongue.
DenTek Tongue Cleaner
Like white-tongued people, hairy-tongued people have enlarged bumps, or papillae, on the surface of the tongue that traps a visible amount of debris, dead skin cells, and bacteria.
While white-tongued people have swollen papillae, hairy-tongued people have papillae that grow and give the tongue's surface a fuzzy appearance (so no, you don't have hair growing on your tongue, it only seems so!).
Either way, overly large or enlarged taste buds look and feel uncomfortable, and put you at risk for chronic halitosis (bad breath). Nobody wants that, and the DenTek Tongue Cleaner is a solid option to ensure that does not happen.
The DenTek option has 3 scraping edges to further encourage dead cell removal and it also has a minty flavor [which is faint with use] but leaves an overall feeling of freshness that lingers for days afterward.
What is the Best Tongue Scraper?
We might be a bit biased, but our Orgone Energy Copper Tongue Scrapers are exceptionally well made and stand up to everyday use. Did we mention how stylish they look in a medicine cabinet?
There's a reason the Orgone Energy Tongue Scraper is the best of the best. It basically checks all the right boxes (including a great option for kids). It is made of non-toxic, medical-grade, antibacterial and antimicrobial copper. with a comfortable grip and a heavy-duty gauge that allows for gentle tongue scraping.
In addition, the Orgone Energy Copper Tongue Scraper has a wide scraping edge to reach the entire surface, a thick, blunt edge for safety, and comfortable grips on the handles for easy maneuvering. With proper care, it can last for many years.
A Word About Gag Reflex
While inserting a dental hygiene tool deep into your mouth will cause you to choke a bit, there is a way to train yourself to overcome your gag reflex.
Start with your tongue scraper in the middle of your tongue and only scrape halfway for a few swipes, then move back a little further with each subsequent swipe.
Since you are probably standing over the sink, there is no harm if you are a little spit-uppy. Tongue scraping is a wellness self-care practice that has little effect, especially when you want a fresher mouth—a big payoff.
Conclusion
We all know the importance of maintaining a healthy and clean mouth. When you flash your pearly white teeth, you want them to be really pearly white. But dental health isn't just about white teeth.
Yes, you should brush your teeth daily and also floss. Keeping the tongue clean is a vital step in oral hygiene. You may think that just using your toothbrush on the tongue is enough, but the best tongue scraper cleans your tongue much better than a quick clean with your brush.
