Do Tongue Scrapers Help With Bad Breath?

Q: Is a tongue scraper better than brushing your tongue?

In the trials that compared them, yes. In one trial a scraper cut odour-causing sulfur gases by 75% and a toothbrush by 45%. In another, the scraper cut them by 40% and the toothbrush by 33%.

Q: How often should you scrape your tongue?

Once a day, according to the NHS. Use gentle pressure.

14 octobre 2026

Short answer

Yes. Bad breath most often comes from bacteria on the back of the tongue, and clinical trials found that cleaning the tongue improves breath odour. In two trials that measured the sulfur gases behind bad breath, a tongue scraper reduced them more than a toothbrush did.

Where does bad breath come from?

A Cochrane review of 44 trials on bad breath explains that it is caused by a build-up of bacteria or food particles in the mouth, most commonly at the back of the tongue. That is why cleaning the tongue matters.

Does cleaning your tongue improve your breath?

Yes. The same review found that cleaning the tongue improved breath odour compared with not cleaning it.

Is a tongue scraper better than brushing your tongue?

In the trials that compared them, yes. Two trials measured the sulfur gases that cause the smell.

In one trial of 10 people, a scraper cut those gases by 75% and a toothbrush by 45%.
In the other, a scraper cut them by 40% and a toothbrush by 33%.

In both trials the scraper came out ahead.

Why choose a copper tongue scraper?

A one-piece copper scraper is a single strip of metal, with no joints, hinges or plastic parts for debris to collect in. That makes it quick to rinse clean after each use, and there is nothing to snap or come loose.

How do you use a tongue scraper?

Stick out your tongue and place the curve of the scraper as far back as is comfortable.
Draw it forward to the tip with light pressure.
Rinse the scraper and repeat two or three times.

The NHS advises cleaning your tongue once a day with a tongue scraper or cleaner. Keep the pressure gentle. It warns against cleaning so hard that your tongue bleeds.

What if bad breath keeps coming back?

Cleveland Clinic lists dry mouth, gum disease, tonsil stones and acid reflux among other causes. The NHS advises seeing a dentist if bad breath has not gone after a few weeks of looking after your mouth, or if you also have bleeding gums, toothache or loose teeth.