As 2026 begins, millions across the UK are pledging to adopt healthier routines, yet one simple but essential hygiene practice continues to be widely neglected. Despite its proven benefits, the act of tongue scraping remains absent from many people's daily oral care regimen.
The Overlooked Step in Your Daily Routine
While brushing and flossing are well-established, dental professionals and wellness advocates are now stressing the importance of a more comprehensive approach. Tongue scraping, a practice with ancient origins, involves using a dedicated tool to gently remove a buildup of bacteria, dead skin cells, and food debris from the tongue's surface.
Popular oral care brand Oral-B notes that the habit has existed for hundreds of years, with historical cultures employing materials like ivory and whalebone. Today, modern, purpose-built scrapers are readily available, making the practice more accessible than ever.
Three Surprising Benefits Beyond Fresh Breath
The benefits extend far beyond simply combating bad breath, a point emphasised by dental experts on social media platforms like TikTok. Joyce the Dentist, a popular online figure, recently highlighted several lesser-known advantages in a viral video.
Firstly, a clean tongue enhances your sense of taste, allowing flavours to be perceived more accurately. Secondly, it can optimise digestion, as removing debris from the tongue helps to properly activate digestive enzymes in the mouth at the start of the digestive process.
Perhaps most intriguing is the potential link to cardiovascular wellness. Joyce referenced the role of nitric oxide, explaining that certain oral bacteria can convert dietary nitrates into nitrites, which the body then turns into nitric oxide. This compound helps relax blood vessels, aiding in blood pressure management. By scraping away these bacteria, you may help prevent them from entering the bloodstream.
How to Incorporate Scraping Correctly
It is vital to note that tongue scraping is a supplement to, not a replacement for, brushing and flossing. Oral-B advises that it "can add to it and help improve oral health in the long and short term."
For effective use, start the scraper at the back of the tongue and pull it forward towards the tip with gentle pressure. Rinse the scraper after each pass and repeat several times until the tongue appears clean. Social media users have echoed this guidance, stressing that correct technique is key to reaping the full rewards of this ancient yet newly relevant daily habit.
