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Prevent cavities, remove plaque, and improve your sense of taste with these top tongue scrapers.
ByDaley Quinn
Updated on August 06, 2024
Medically reviewed byBrian T. Luong, DMD
Fact checked byRich Scherr
If you suffer from bad breath, studies show that tongue scrapers can help by removing food particles and plaque that remain on your tongue. In addition to reducing bad breath, tongue scrapers can also help reduce cavities and enhance your sense of taste. Marina Gonchar, DMD, dentist and owner of Skin to Smile, suggests using a tongue scraper every day in the morning right after you floss and brush your teeth. Most tongue scrapers have a thin, flat head with a slightly curved shape, but there are many different shapes, sizes, and materials to choose from. When shopping for a tongue scraper, consider the materials (like stainless steel, copper, or plastic), the shape and design (is the tongue scraper small enough to fit in your mouth?), and ease of cleaning. To find the most effective tongue scrapers, we reached out to experts to see what qualities they look for and which products they suggest to their patients. Based on their advice and our research, these are our best picks. The surface of the tongue is full of taste buds. There are many different types of taste buds, but all have stalks and papilla that round out with undercuts under the stalks, similar to the shape of a mushroom, explains Erin Fraundorf, DMD, MSD, orthodontist and founder of BOCA Orthodontic + Whitening Studio. Bad bacteria can get trapped in oxygen-poor areas and cause bacteria buildup as well as bad breath. A tongue scraper works by removing the thick biofilm on the bumpy surface of the tongue, allowing the nutrients from your healthy saliva to get into the biome underneath the caps. Our Top Picks Best Stainless Steel: Best Tongue Scraper and Brush Combo: Best for Small Mouths: GuruNanda U-Shaped Stainless Steel Tongue Scraper at Amazon ($5) Best for Kids: Best Multipack: Best Tongue Scraper and Flosser Combo: Best Copper Tongue Scraper: In This Article How Tongue Scrapers Work What Healthcare Providers Want You to Know Our Picks How We Selected the Best Tongue Scrapers Why Trust Verywell Health Pros Easy to use Affordable Durable Cons Extra pressure may lead to injury Material: Stainless steel | Reusable: Yes | Additional features: Rustproof, dishwasher safe, BPA-free Both Dr. Gonchar and Dr. Fraundorf recommend the MasterMedi Tongue Scraper. It’s a simple metal tongue scraper with a double handle. Dr. Gonchar loves that the metal is easy to clean, doesn’t harbor bacteria, and has the perfect ergonomic shape for its purpose. She also loves the handy travel case. The double handle allows for maximum surface coverage of the tongue during scraping, making it simple to perform the task. Dr. Fraundorf likes this tongue scraper because it’s made of solid stainless steel, making it easier to clean than scrapers with plastic comfort grips on the handle. This pick is also affordable and made with high-quality, durable materials. However, it's worth noting that if you press too hard with MasterMedi Tongue Scraper, you might hurt yourself. If you're looking for a stainless steel option that's a bit more gentle, we recommend Davids Professional Tongue Scraper. It features a smooth, rounded scraper edge that’s actually designed to be gentle on your tongue. To top it off, it's pretty small compared to other stainless steel tongue scrapers so it's also ideal for people with small mouths or those who have a strong gag reflex. If you press down too hard with this tongue scraper, you might hurt your tongue, so be careful. Pros Contains bristles and a scraper Good for folks with a strong gag reflex Easy to clean Cons May be too strong for sensitive tongues Material: Plastic | Reusable: Yes | Additional features: Recommended by dental professionals, ergonomic grip handle If you want to get into the nitty gritty of tongue scraping, consider trying the GUM Tongue Cleaner. Dr. Gonchar recommends this pick to her patients because it’s a combination of a flat tongue scraper on one side and bristles on the opposite side. It provides both methods of cleaning your tongue in one handy tool. To use this tool properly, use the bristle side first to essentially dislodge any food debris and plaque that might be stuck on your tongue. Then, use the flat scraper side to remove the loosened particles from your tongue. This is a pretty small, narrow tongue scraper that will work well for small or sensitive mouths, as well as people who have a strong gag reflex. It’s easy to clean and pop into your toiletry bag for travel, as it doesn't take up a ton of room. The scraper side might feel too rough if you have a sensitive tongue. Pros Easy to clean Good for people with small mouths Anti-gagging design Cons Edges are softer than other scrapers Material: Medical-grade stainless steel | Reusable: Yes | Additional features: Rustproof, comes with a travel case, dishwasher safe The GuruNanda U-Shaped Stainless Steel Tongue Scraper is similar to other stainless steel tongue scrapers on the market, but it has a different design and shape, with one handle and a preset shape. Dr. Gonchar likes this scraper for smaller mouths as it requires less opening to perform the task. Because this tongue scraper doesn’t have two handles, some people might find it easier to use. We like that it comes with a travel case and can even be washed in the dishwasher if you want to get it extra clean. This tongue scraper doesn’t have as sharp of an edge as others on the market and, therefore, may not feel like it's getting your tongue as clean. Pros Ergonomically designed for kids Avoids bacteria buildup Smaller than regular tongue scrapers Cons Not environment-friendly Material: Recycled plastic | Reusable: No | Additional features: 32 tongue scrapers per pack, unflavored Kids can learn to clean their tongues, too, and Dr. Gonchar recommends Grin Kiddo Disposable Tongue Scrapers specifically for children. The tongue scraper is ergonomically designed for kids and is also disposable to avoid contamination of bacteria as a result of improper cleaning between uses. This tongue scraper is smaller than your average scraper, allowing it to properly fit into a child’s small mouth. It’s also easy to hold and unflavored. One package will last you about a month. The scraper is meant for one-time use, so it isn’t the most sustainable option. Pros Contains bristles and a scraper Sturdy and easy to use Gentle for sensitive tongues Cons May be too wide for some Material: Plastic | Reusable: Yes | Additional features: Pack of two or four If you’re looking for a tongue scraper pack for the whole family or you replace your tongue scraper frequently, the Orabrush Tongue Scraper is the right option for you. Dr. Gonchar likes this tongue scraper because it’s a combination of a scraper and bristles. The bristles are ultra-soft and will not damage your tongue, and some people feel they add an extra layer of cleanliness. This pick comes in a two-pack or a four-pack and should be replaced every three to four months. The micro-pointed bristles are soft and non-irritating, and the scraper is simple enough to use. The scraper is well-made, sturdy, and keeps your breath fresh. These tongue scrapers are pretty wide, so if you have a small mouth or a strong gag reflex, you might want to try another option. Pros Dual use electric flosser and tongue scraper Tongue scraper has three layers Easy to use Cons Pricier than other options on this list Material: Spec | Reusable: Yes | Additional features: Equipped with sonic vibrations, battery powered The Slate Electric Flosser is ideal for travel because it features an electric flosser and a tongue scraper all in one. Unlike manual tongue scrapers, this pick actually vibrates while you sweep the tongue scraper down your tongue. The tongue scraper side has three different layers to really get into all the grooves of your tongue. We love that this option has a flosser, too. This device offers 12,000 sonic vibrations per minute, has unique gum sweeps, and is easy to use. You can reuse the floss heads for about a week or longer. This flosser costs $90, but it will last a long time and comes with five reusable floss heads. Pros Made with all copper Prevents bacteria growth Cons Not super durable Material: Copper and rubber handles | Reusable: Yes | Additional features: Cruelty free According Mike Wei, DDS, FIADFE, a Manhattan-based cosmetic dentist and owner of Michael J. Wei DDS, copper tongue scrapers remove build-up on the tongue while also preventing the growth of bacteria. He recommends DrTung’s Copper Tongue Cleaner because it’s great at removing bacteria and residue from the tongue, thanks to its curved design and comfortable grip. This tongue scraper is also travel-friendly and easy to clean. The copper material feels a bit softer on the tongue than your traditional stainless steel tongue scraper and provides a refreshing sensation with each use. This tongue scraper seems to bend easily, and might also rust faster than a stainless steel option. To select the best tongue scrapers on the market, we spoke with dentists and researched dozens of tongue cleaners and scrapers. When creating this list, we considered: The experts we spoke to included: Daley Quinn is a freelance journalist, specializing in beauty and health, who has contributed to numerous publications, such as Elle, Real Simple, Allure, The Cut, WWD, and more. She also writes for her blog, The Daley Dose. She used thorough editor insights, as well as recommendations from dentists and orthodontists, to determine the best tongue scrapers on the market.:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/vwh-best-tongue-scrapers-tout-f28811d6af044aa2a4c93bd23da624bc.jpg "Suffer From Bad Breath? These Top Tongue Scrapers Can Help You Freshen Up (1)")
How Tongue Scrapers Work
What Healthcare Providers Want You to Know
Key Specs
Why We Recommend It
Keep In Mind
Best Tongue Scraper and Brush Combo
GUM Dual Action Tongue Cleaner
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Key Specs
Why We Recommend It
Keep In Mind
Best for Small Mouths
GuruNanda U-Shaped Stainless Steel Tongue Scraper
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Key Specs
Why We Recommend It
Keep In Mind
Key Specs
Why We Recommend It
Keep In Mind
Key Specs
Why We Recommend It
Keep In Mind
Best Tongue Scraper and Flosser Combo
Slate Electric Flosser
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Key Specs
Why We Recommend It
Keep In Mind
Key Specs
Why We Recommend It
Keep In Mind
How We Selected the Best Tongue Scrapers
Our Experts
Why Trust Verywell Health
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1 Source
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Choi HN, Cho YS, Koo JW. The effect of mechanical tongue cleaning on oral malodor and tongue coating. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;19(1):108. doi:10.3390/ijerph19010108
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By Daley Quinn
Quinn is a freelance health and lifestyle journalist based in New York City. She was a former beauty editor at Family Circle.
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