“I swear, I scrape my tongue every morning,” the woman said.
“I’ve read so many great articles about it myself,” another person responded.
“It gets rid of any lingering coffee flavor and helps me taste food better,” the woman added.
Before leaving Dart, I ordered a €5.99 metal tongue scraper online. While the habit was new to me, tongue scraping therapy actually has a much longer history than we often realize.
Tongue scraping originated in ancient Indian Ayurvedic medicine over 3,000 years ago and later spread to Roman and early Buddhist cultures. In recent years, the practice has seen a resurgence, with many social media influencers and health professionals touting its benefits.
In Eastern medicine, the tongue is considered a vital window into one’s health. Its color, spots, patches, and cracks can offer clues to overall well-being.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, tongue diagnosis is a crucial diagnostic tool, where doctors observe the tongue’s color, shape, coating, and texture to assess the body’s internal health.
Sam Parkes, an acupuncturist at the Lotus Acupuncture Clinic in Baldoyle, Dublin, explains: “The tongue is a window into the inner workings of the body.
The tip of the tongue corresponds to the heart and lungs, the center to the stomach and spleen, the sides to the liver and gallbladder, and the base and back of the tongue to the kidneys, bladder, intestines, and reproductive organs.”
He points out that common tongue signs include:
Fissures: These may be associated with excessive intake of spicy foods, alcohol, and processed foods.
Color: A pale tongue may indicate fatigue or anemia, while a dark purple tongue indicates poor circulation.
Tongue coating: Ideally, the tongue coating should be a thin white coating; a thick or yellowish coating may indicate digestive or respiratory problems.
Shape: A swollen or tooth-marked tongue may indicate a weak digestive system, while a thin tongue may indicate fluid deficiency or nutrient absorption problems.
In contrast, Western medicine focuses more on the tongue’s role in oral health rather than as a diagnostic tool for overall health.
Dublin dentist Laís Coneglian explains, “The rough surface of the tongue helps remove food particles, bacteria, and plaque, and tongue movement is crucial for chewing, swallowing, and speaking.”
A healthy tongue is typically pink, smooth, and covered with thin papillae. It’s moist and soft, free of coating, cracks, or abnormal plaque.”
Tongue scraping is a simple yet effective oral hygiene method. Coneglian says, “Gently scraping the tongue surface with a tongue scraper to remove bacteria, food particles, and dead cells is a natural way to improve oral hygiene. Studies have shown that tongue scraping can reduce volatile sulfur compounds, the main cause of bad breath, more than brushing.”
Research has also found that regular tongue scraping may improve taste after two weeks. Brushing, flossing, staying hydrated, eating a balanced diet, and regular dental checkups are all important steps to maintain a healthy tongue.
I’ve personally made tongue scraping a daily habit and found it very easy to perform. A few quick scrapes each morning and evening after brushing not only freshen my breath, but also reduce bad breath and keep my tongue looking healthier.
This little tip, which I first heard about by chance on Dart, has now become a part of my daily oral health routine, and it’s a habit I wish I had started sooner.
