4 Reasons You Should Start Tongue Scraping For Your Overall Health

Mark Burhenne, DDS (aka, Ask the Dentist), has officially convinced our entire editorial team to start tongue scraping. We even took a few minutes from our weekly pitch meeting to shout out our favorite tools and wax poetic about our (icky) results. Just another Monday at mindbodygreen! 

Now, tongue scraping is by no means a new habit. It's a centuries-old ritual in Ayurveda, known as Jihwa Prakshalana. But after listening to Burhenne rattle off the underrated benefits on a recent episode of the mindbodygreen podcast, we have even more appreciation for the oral health practice.

Ready for a hot take? "If you have bad breath, mouthwash actually makes it worse," says Burhenne. He compares it to deodorizing something rancid with a spray—it might mask the smell for a few minutes, but the odor will surely come back with a vengeance. 

Rather, you'll want to address the source of the odor to clear it effectively. Scraping your tongue does just that by reducing bacteria buildup from the back of the tongue. 

Burhenne compares the tongue to a shag carpet, in that it easily traps debris and bacteria in its nooks and crannies. As that material accumulates over time, it can lead to improper biofilm formation on the tongue and even blunt your taste buds. 

And by enhancing the flavor of your food, Burhenne says tongue scraping can even help keep you fuller for longer. Recent research agrees: One study3 found that neurons in the brain respond to taste perception almost immediately, which helps regulate eating behavior. Meaning, don't underestimate the role our mouths have in satiety. 

"If you tongue scrape, you can actually lower your blood pressure," says Burhenne. It all has to do with nitric oxide, a molecule that influences immune function, weight, circulation, blood pressure, mood, and more. 

Tongue scraping helps disrupt the bacteria buildup on the tongue, which helps balance the oral microbiome—and a balanced microbiome is essential for optimal oral health. 

Take it from Burhenne, a solid oral care routine goes beyond brushing and flossing. "Brushing and flossing is not the only thing that saves us," he adds. In fact, "Just do that alone, and you're still going to have decay."