The short answer…ALL OF US!!
‘So what the hell is it?’ we hear you ask (most likely with a scrunched up nose and a bit of side eye)?
Yep, a tongue scraper – as modelled above thanks to Keeko - doesn’t sound overly appealing. And the act of tongue scraping in the mornings probably doesn’t create the same levels of excitement as your morning coffee, nor the same satisfaction as a deep facial exfoliation in the evenings.
But this little tool is incredibly understated, and the benefits of using it morning and night to scrape all the nasties from your tongue is game changing… Further, research has shown that using a tongue scraper far outweighs the job a regular toothbrush can do when it comes to cleaning our tongues…
There is a reason why tongue scraping has existed in Ayurvedic practices as a daily hygiene ritual since ancient times.
So, how exactly does scraping our tongue with this contraption help us?
1. To get rid of bad breath!
It’s awkward to talk about, we know. But let’s just acknowledge it happens to all of us, regardless of whether we like to hit the garlic or not, and instead think about what we are doing to get rid of it.
And we don’t mean avoiding garlic for the rest of our lives!!
Let’s consider why we get bad breath for a moment. While it may be a sign of bigger problems, that every day breath stale-ness that we are all prone to is likely caused by leftover food particles in our mouths which like to loiter long after our green smoothie or salmon-and-quinoa salad is down the hatch.
Our teeth then get some respite from our toothbrushes and our floss, but all the while those particles capable of an all-nighter are having a rave in & around your taste buds, ready to cause havoc in the early hours of the morning.
Tongue scraper to the rescue…
2. To avoid bacteria..
Speaking of leftover food particles, when left behind they invite another unpleasant friend – bacteria. Bacteria not only amplifies the odour, but if left, bacteria can help to formulate nasty toxins in the mouth which irritate gums. And what is a nasty side effect of gum disease? You guessed it – bad breath. A vicious cycle!
3. To improve our sense of taste
If I said you could taste extra sweetness in every strawberry, extra salty-ness in your spiced sweet potato chips (or extra flavour in every Rose…), would you want to know how?!
Tongue scraping doesn’t have to be all gruesome – it also has the benefit of refreshing your taste buds and improving your sense of taste. Ahh, yes please!
4. To improve gut health
Our digestive systems and the creation of digestive enzymes are triggered as soon as we put food in our mouths, at which time our bodies work out which enzymes are needed to digest the type of food we are eating.
What happens if our tongues are coated in food, bacteria & toxins? Our bodies can’t recognize what we are eating and what type of digestive enzymes are required.
A refreshed tongue means a healthier and more functional digestive system.
5. Overall health
And if you needed more convincing, poor oral hygiene is also linked to numerous other diseases including cardiovascular illness, kidney issues and even infertility.
So adding the simple act of tongue scraping to your twice-a-day brush & floss routine doesn’t sound so bad after all does it?!
And one last note – for hygiene purposes, remember to replace your scraper every 3 months ;)
Our fave is Keeko’s Copper Tongue Scraper, which you can find here:
https://www.keekooil.com/collections/all/products/copper-tongue-scrapper.