Tongue Scrapers
By Nick Manteris · 0 Comments · Leave a Comment
or: How I learned to stop brushy-ing and scrape the tongue
Years ago, in an effort to learn more about Tao (or “the way”) I borrowed a book from a newly converted Taoist friend. I related to the concept of Tao – mostly because it seemed very much like “the force” from Star Wars – but one of the first chapters required any serious student of Tao to use a tongue cleaner every morning. The idea that a specific device was needed to scrape off your tongue seemed like a very silly to me at the time and diminished the authoritative value of the book. It seemed like one of those kitchen gadgets that can only be used for one particular function, like a milk carton holder or one of those microwave bacon contraptions. I mean…we already have toothbrushes to clean our mouths, right? Do we really need to use something to scrape off our tongues? Apparently…yes, we do.
I might never have learned this fact if not for the thoughtful gift from a friend. About a week after I inquired about the tongue scraper in her bathroom I was given a Dr. Tung’s stainless steel tongue cleaner of my very own.
She told me that she wouldn’t ever feel like her mouth was completely clean if she didn’t use one and that she believed it helped her avoid getting sick, but this was still not enough to sway me. But…if either the book or my friend had suggested that I go get a spoon from the kitchen to scrape my tongue right then I probably would have purchased a tongue cleaner the very same day. Try it and you will see.
If you still haven’t been sufficiently convinced then consider the fact that over two-thirds of the bacteria in the oral cavity thrive on the surface of the tongue and that there are a number of systemic diseases associated with oral bacteria. Cleaning the tongue is definitely better for oral hygiene and it might even be beneficial for overall health. What have you got to lose? Get yourself a tongue cleaner.
