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“You mean, you don’ttongue-scrape?”
Courtesy of Terra & Co.
whispered a friend over dinner with the same incredulity as if I’d said Inever shower.
I couldn’t help but wonder: was everyone tongue scraping but me?
And perhaps more importantly…what’s the appeal?
Meet the Experts
What is tongue scraping?
This didn’t require too much detective work: it’s pretty much exactly what it sounds like.
What are the benefits of tongue scraping?
In the years since,studieshave been conducted that suggest tongue scraping can help subduehalitosis.
Rinsing helps, but using a tongue scraper is very beneficial."
Proponents also report that it leaves their mouth feeling remarkably fresher overall.
“I love tongue scraping,” saysAllure’s own digital art director Ingrid Frahm.
“Or maybe, I just hatenottongue scraping.
Amra Hajdarevic, co-founder of oral care brandTerra & Co., also tongue-scrapes daily.
Are there any risks to tongue scraping?
(Injury and irritation only arise when you scrape too hard, he says.)
How should you use a tongue scraper?
Before you give tongue scraping a go, there are a few basic guidelines to keep in mind.
My tool of choice wasTerra & Co.
Gentle Green Tongue Scraper, which Hajdarevic says can last up to a decade with proper care.
Terra & Co.
Terra & Co. Do this two or three times, rinsing the scraper under warm water between pulls.
Once done, give your mouth a rinse to ensure nothing was left behind.”
Reader, I tried it.
Did it take several attempts to get my tongue to unfurl when confronted with a metal object?
Was I grossed out by the film that formed on the scraper as I ran it along my tongue?
Would I classify my breath as fresher and my mouth as far cleaner immediately afterwards?
Yes, and yes.
Or maybe it’s just because the end result is so darn satisfying.
No matter I’m sold.
Read more about oral health:
Now watch the history of dental care:
