What is Tongue Scraping?
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the tongue is viewed as a diagnostic map of the body. ‘Tongue scraping’ is great for improving your digestion and the overall health of your internal organs. It’s also a complementary practice to brushing and flossing, believed to help with issues such as bad breath.
Amazingly, the benefits of using a tongue scraper reach far beyond just oral hygiene and fresh breath. Cleansing the tongue enhances the sense of taste, and because digestion begins with taste, this alone supports the entire digestive process. During the night, dampness and phlegm build up on our tongue – before eating or drinking it is best to remove this coating to prevent the damp phlegm getting absorbed back into the gut.
Other Benefits of Tongue Scraping
So, looking after the health of your tongue can bring great benefits. TCM practitioners can also use the examination of the tongue as a diagnostic tool, assessing the tongue’s color, coating and texture to get a better understanding of a patient’s health status. So it’s way more than just a spongy thing inside your mouth!
You may well have never even considered the benefits of tongue health, and even less tongue scraping, but it’s well worth thinking about adding it to your self-care regime.
How to Scrape Your Tongue:
1. Pick up a Tongue Scraper
Various types of scrapers are available, including copper and plastic options. At Touch Tuina, we stock the copper variety, which will be longer-lasting
2. Gently scrape
Extend your tongue and gently scrape from the back to the front, removing any coating
3. Rinse and repeat
Rinse the scraper and repeat the scraping motion several times, rinsing your mouth afterwards
4. Clean and store
Clean the scraper thoroughly after each use and store it in a clean, dry place
If you’d like to find out about the benefits of Tongue Scaping for yourself, why not pick one up at our Kentish Town clinic, available for £8 (as of August ‘25).
