Why You Need To Use a Tongue Scraper

Okay, this is going to get kind of gross but stay with me because this is just so important. TONGUE SCRAPING. You need to be doing it because it’s just as important as brushing your teeth.

I first heard about tongue scraping a couple of years ago from Sahara Rose – LOVE her podcast. It’s a must listen if you haven’t tuned in yet.

Anyway, if you’ve experienced bad breath or have seen a white cast on your tongue, it’s from toxins that are sitting in your mouth. Yes, you can (and should) brush your teeth, but scraping those toxins off of your tongue is so important for your health (and for the sake of whoever you’re in close quarters with). And not with a toothbrush – I’m saying this because I used to brush my tongue with a toothbrush. Not gonna cut it, sorry.

If we let the toxins sit in our mouths without removing them, they get reabsorbed by the body and can cause digestive issues, a weak immune system and a host of other imbalances. {source}.

♡ Benefits of tongue scraping:

♡ Enhanced taste buds

♡ Improved digestion

♡ Increased immunity

♡ Improved dental health

♡ Less gum infections and recessions

♡ Enhanced salvia production to break down foods

Now that we have the why and the benefits covered, let’s talk about what kind of tongue scraper to use. Backing up for a sec: I used to use a stainless steel scraper, but switched to copper simply because it’s an Ayurvedic classic. Copper has been used for medicinal practices back to the 5th and 6th millennia B.C. The Egyptians used copper for their water pipes because water stored in copper gave health benefits for those who drank the water. Copper is also antimicrobial, antibacterial and antifungal, making it used for everything from IUD’s to tongue scrapers. HERE is the one that I use and love.

How to use a tongue scraper:

1. Use it first thing in the morning – I try to use mine before I even have a sip of water or coffee in the AM because I don’t want to be downing toxins.
2. Take the scraper as far back on your tongue as possible, without gagging and use gentle pressure to scrape the surface of your tongue.
3. Rinse the scraper with warm water – you will see white stuff on it. Keep repeating the process until your tongue is clean. At first, you might need to repeat 5-10 times.

So, do you tongue scrape?