While the order of your oral care routine doesn't particularly matter, we recommend using a tongue scraper before brushing your teeth. By scraping your tongue first, you remove bacteria, food debris, and dead cells from the surface of your tongue, which can help improve oral hygiene and prevent bad breath.

After using your tongue scraper, you can proceed to brush your teeth as usual, ensuring your mouth is thoroughly cleaned. Overall, incorporating tongue scrapers into your oral health routine can enhance the effectiveness of brushing and flossing, leading to a happier, healthier smile.

In this article, I'll explain everything you need to know about tongue scrapers and how to use them properly.

What's the best order for my oral care routine?

To optimize your oral care routine, start off by using a tongue scraper to clean your tongue by gently removing bacteria and debris from the surface of your tongue. This step helps freshen your breath by removing odor causing bacteria.

Following tongue scraping, grab your expanding floss. Proceed to floss between your teeth to eliminate plaque and food particles that brushing alone may miss. Once you finish floss, go ahead and brush your teeth thoroughly with nano hydroxyapatite toothpaste for two minutes, ensuring you cover all the surfaces of your teeth and along the gumline.

Nano hydroxyapatite toothpaste offers enamel-strengthening benefits and promotes remineralization to help prevent and reverse tooth decay. Finally, rinse your mouth with an alcohol-free mouthwash to further freshen your breath and kill remaining bacteria.

Why should I use a tongue scraper?

Using a tongue scraper has many benefits. First, it helps remove harmful bacteria, food particles, and dead cells from the surface of your tongue, reducing the likelihood of bad breath.

Additionally, regular use of a tongue scraper may improve your sense of taste by removing residue that can dull taste buds. Overall, incorporating tongue scraping into your oral care routine can promote fresher breath, better taste perception, and improved oral health.

Tongue Scraping vs Brushing Your Tongue

Using a tongue scraper and brushing your tongue are both effective methods for removing bacteria and debris from the surface of your tongue, but tongue scraping is more effective.

Tongue scraping works by using a specialized tool, typically plastic tongue scrapers or stainless steel tongue scrapers, to gently remove buildup from the surface of your entire tongue. This method is particularly effective at removing the thick coating that can accumulate on our tongues throughout the day, leading to bad breath and potential oral health issues like gum disease.

On the other hand, brushing your tongue involves using your toothbrush to scrub the surface of the tongue during your regular brushing routine. While brushing can help remove some bacteria and debris, research shows tongue brushing is not as effective as tongue scraping at fighting bad breath and removing harmful bacteria.

Benefits of Tongue Scraping

Tongue scraping offers several benefits for our oral health. First, it helps remove bacteria, food debris, and dead cells from the surface of the tongue, reducing the risk of bad breath and promoting fresher breath throughout the day. By eliminating these odor-causing substances, tongue scraping can enhance your oral hygiene and even your confidence.

Additionally, regular tongue scraping can contribute to a healthier oral microbiome by reducing the buildup of harmful bacteria on the tongue, which may help prevent dental issues such as tooth decay, gum disease, and oral infections.

Moreover, some studies suggest that tongue scraping may improve the sense of taste by removing the layer of residue that can dull taste buds, allowing you to better enjoy the flavors of your food and beverages. Overall, incorporating tongue scraping into your daily oral care routine can be a simple yet effective way to support optimal oral health.

How to Use a Tongue Scraper

To use a tongue scraper effectively, start by rinsing the scraper under running water to ensure cleanliness. Stand in front of a mirror with your mouth open, and extend your tongue as far out as comfortable.

Place the rounded edge of the scraper at the back of your tongue and gently glide it forward, applying light pressure. Repeat this motion several times, covering the entire surface of your tongue, including the sides. Rinse the scraper with water after each pass to remove accumulated debris.

Once you've finished scraping, rinse your mouth thoroughly with water or mouthwash to remove any remaining residue. For best results, you should repeat this process daily, preferably in the morning and evening after your last meal and before brushing your teeth.

How often should I tongue scrape?

For best results, we recommend tongue scraping at least once daily in the morning before brushing your teeth. This routine helps remove bacteria, food debris, and dead cells from the surface of your tongue, promoting fresher breath and a healthier mouth.

However, you can adjust the frequency based on your personal preference and oral health needs. You may find it beneficial to tongue scrape more frequently, especially if you experience persistent bad breath.

Experiment with different frequencies to find what works best for you, but aim for at least once daily to maintain good oral hygiene.

Should you scrape your tongue before or after oil pulling?

According to Ayurvedic practices, the best time to scrape your tongue is as part of your morning oral hygiene routine, immediately after oil pulling. 

Oil pulling when done first thing in the morning, helps remove toxins and bacteria from the mouth, preparing it for thorough cleaning. Scraping your tongue afterward ensures that any residue loosened by the oil is fully removed, promoting fresher breath and better oral hygiene.

Ayurvedic teachings emphasize this sequence because oil pulling helps detoxify the mouth, and tongue scraping clears the remaining buildup, contributing to overall health. 

Additionally, research indicates that tongue scraping can reduce bacteria that cause bad breath and improve taste perception. By combining oil pulling and tongue scraping, you create a holistic and effective morning oral care routine.

Is it better to use a tongue scraper in the morning or night?

It is generally better to use a tongue scraper in the morning, as it helps remove the buildup of bacteria and toxins that accumulate overnight. 

Research indicates that scraping your tongue after waking up can improve breath freshness and overall oral hygiene. Using a tongue scraper in the morning can also enhance your taste perception by clearing away debris from the surface of your tongue. 

While scraping at night is beneficial for removing food particles and bacteria, doing so in the morning is more effective for eliminating the overnight coating. 

That's why incorporating tongue scraping into your daily routine, whether morning or night, can reduce the risk of bad breath and support better oral health. Regular use helps maintain a cleaner mouth throughout the day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I use a tongue scraper before or after brushing?
You should use a tongue scraper before brushing your teeth. Scraping your tongue first helps remove bacteria, food debris, and dead cells from its surface, allowing for a more effective cleaning process. After tongue scraping, proceed with brushing your teeth to complete your oral hygiene routine. This sequence can help improve breath freshness and overall oral health.

When in my routine should I scrape my tongue?
Incorporate tongue scraping into your oral hygiene routine by doing it before you brush your teeth. This sequence allows you to remove bacteria and debris from the tongue first, potentially making brushing more effective in cleaning your teeth and freshening your breath. After scraping your tongue, you can then proceed with flossing and then brushing for optimal plaque removal. This routine helps ensure a thorough cleaning, contributing to your better oral health and hygiene.

What is the proper way to scrape your tongue?
The proper way to scrape your tongue is to first rinse the tongue scraper under water. Then, extend your tongue in front of a mirror and gently slide the scraper from the back to the front, applying light pressure. Rinse the scraper after each use and finish by rinsing your mouth with water or mouthwash. For optimal results, incorporate this practice into your daily routine, ideally twice a day before brushing your teeth.

Should you scrape your tongue before or after oil pulling?
You should scrape your tongue after oil pulling. Oil pulling is the practice of swishing oil, typically coconut, sesame, or sunflower oil, in your mouth for about 15 to 20 minutes to draw out toxins and bacteria. After spitting out the oil, rinse your mouth with warm water to remove any remaining oil residue. Then, use a tongue scraper to remove loosened bacteria and debris from the surface of your tongue. This sequence allows for a more thorough oral cleansing, enhancing the benefits of both practices.

Should you brush your tongue after scraping it?
Yes, it's a good practice to brush your tongue gently with a toothbrush after scraping it. Scraping removes the bulk of the bacteria and debris from the tongue's surface, while brushing afterward can help further clean any remaining residue and ensure that the tongue is thoroughly cleansed. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and a small amount of toothpaste, if desired, to lightly brush the entire surface of your tongue. This combination of scraping and brushing can contribute to better oral hygiene and fresher breath.

Should I scrape my tongue before or after brushing?
You should use a tongue scraper before brushing your teeth. Scraping your tongue first helps remove bacteria, food debris, and dead cells from its surface, allowing for a more effective cleaning process. After tongue scraping, proceed with brushing your teeth to complete your oral hygiene routine. This sequence can help improve breath freshness and overall oral health. However, regardless of which one you use first, it's best to incorporate both tongue scraping and brushing into your oral care regimen to ensure a more thorough cleaning, addressing areas that brushing alone may not cover.

In what order should I do oil pulling?
To get the most benefits from oil pulling, start by doing it first thing in the morning, before eating or drinking anything. Swish the oil around in your mouth for 10–15 minutes, ensuring it reaches all areas. Afterward, spit the oil out, rinse your mouth with warm water, and then proceed with brushing your teeth.

Am I supposed to brush my teeth before or after oil pulling?
You should brush your teeth after oil pulling. Oil pulling helps remove toxins and bacteria, so brushing afterward ensures a clean mouth and removes any remaining oil. It’s best to do oil pulling first thing in the morning, before eating or drinking anything, and then follow up with brushing.

How do you clean your mouth after oil pulling?
After oil pulling, spit the oil out into a trash can (not the sink to avoid clogging). Rinse your mouth thoroughly with warm water to remove any remaining oil and toxins. Then, brush your teeth as usual to ensure your mouth is fully clean and refreshed.

What is the best way to use a tongue scraper?
Gently place the tongue scraper at the back of your tongue and pull it forward in a sweeping motion. Rinse the scraper after each pass to remove debris, and repeat until the surface of your tongue feels clean. Use the scraper in the morning for optimal freshness and to remove overnight buildup.

Which is better, tongue scraper or brush?
Both a tongue scraper and a toothbrush are effective at cleaning the tongue, but a scraper may remove more debris with less effort. A toothbrush can also clean the tongue, but it may not be as thorough as a dedicated scraper. The choice depends on personal preference and the level of cleaning you prefer.