“Tongue scraping” is all over TikTok, often with a copper arc, presented as a morning ritual. We have already explained what a tongue scraper is for and how to clean your tongue. Two questions remain that we have been asked since we started selling them: steel or copper, and what can you really expect from one? Here are the answers, evidence included.
What the trend promises, and what the studies say
On social media, the tongue scraper is presented as the secret to fresh breath, sometimes to better digestion or sharper taste. The scientific literature is far more modest.
The most recent Cochrane review on bad breath, published in 2019, pooled the available trials on every method. For mechanical tongue cleaning compared with no tongue cleaning, it rates the evidence as “very uncertain”. More broadly, its authors write that there is not enough evidence to say which intervention works best to control bad breath, with low to very low certainty, and most trials followed participants for only a few weeks. An older Cochrane review devoted to tongue scraping alone already judged its evidence weak; it was withdrawn in 2016 and folded into the new one.
What remains is a simple principle: the coating on the back of the tongue is one of the recognised sources of odour, and a tongue scraper removes it mechanically. What the trials do not allow anyone to claim is a lasting effect on breath, let alone on digestion or general health. So we sell the tongue scraper as a cleaning tool, not as a treatment.
Stainless steel or copper: the comparison
Our two models, the stainless steel tongue scraper and the copper tongue scraper, do the same job. What separates them is everyday use:
| Stainless steel | Copper | |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Stainless steel (grade not specified by the supplier) | Copper, confirmed by buyer reviews |
| Shape | U with a handle, thin smooth blade | U-shaped arc held with both hands, three end shapes |
| Over time | Does not change appearance | Darkens, may take on greenish tints |
| Care | Water and soap, then dry | Hot water, then dry; lemon and salt or vinegar against tarnish |
| Avoid if | You want a case: it comes without one | Allergy to copper or nickel |
| Pack | Single or pack of two | Single |
Ultimately, it is the shape that removes the coating, not the metal. Steel suits anyone who wants a maintenance-free object that rinses in seconds; copper suits those who value the traditional gesture and accept a small care routine.
Is copper “antibacterial”?
You read it everywhere. We do not repeat that promise: we found no trial comparing a copper tongue scraper with a steel one on breath, and no evidence specific to this object. A tongue scraper, whatever its metal, is there to remove a deposit; what matters next is rinsing it and letting it dry. If you like copper for its tradition or its look, that is a very good reason to choose it; it is not a reason to credit it with powers.
Using it well, in thirty seconds
- Stick out your tongue and lay the blade flat, as far back as you comfortably can, without forcing.
- Draw it towards the tip in one smooth movement, without pressing.
- Rinse the blade, then repeat two or three times.
- Rinse the tool, dry it, store it somewhere dry.
Once a day is enough, in the morning, before or after brushing. If your gag reflex bothers you, do not go too far back at first: the tolerated area moves back with habit. The tongue scraper adds to brushing, it does not replace it: two two-minute brushings with a fluoride toothpaste, such as our Classic Mint, and cleaning between the teeth, with dental floss or an interdental brush, do most of the work.
Caring for copper, and for steel
- Copper darkens in contact with air and water, and may take on greenish tints: this is normal oxidation and does not affect use. Half a lemon dipped in fine salt, or a little white vinegar, rubbed on the arc and then rinsed, restores its shine. Rinse it and dry it with a cloth after each use.
- Stainless steel rinses under hot water and washes with soap. It does not hold odours and does not wear out: replace it only if the blade is bent or scratched.
- In both cases, one tongue scraper per person, stored dry, never in a damp toiletry bag.
When a tongue scraper is not enough
Breath that stays bad despite brushing, cleaning between the teeth and cleaning the tongue is not a matter of tools. The ADA advises seeing your dentist first: persistent bad breath can signal gum disease, and it often comes from there rather than the stomach. If the dentist rules out a cause in the mouth, see your doctor. And regardless of breath, a painful tongue, a white patch that does not come off with cleaning or a sore that does not heal deserve prompt attention.
For fresh breath day to day, the most useful thing remains a complete routine; our Fresh Breath Trio brings together three toothpastes to support it. The tongue scrapers and their neighbours are in our interdental care range.
Read also: Morning breath: causes, and what to do when you wake up
Your questions about tongue scrapers
Copper or stainless steel tongue scraper: which is more effective?
No trial has compared them, and nothing shows that one metal removes the coating better than the other. The technique is the same: blade flat, back to front, without forcing. Choose steel for zero upkeep, copper for the traditional gesture.
Why is my copper tongue scraper turning dark?
It is the natural oxidation of copper in contact with air and moisture; it does not affect use. Rub it with half a lemon dipped in salt, or a little white vinegar, then rinse and dry.
Can you use a tongue scraper every day?
Yes, once a day is enough, preferably in the morning. Beyond that, you irritate the tongue for no gain. Pressing harder does not help either: regularity is what counts, not force.
Can a child use a tongue scraper?
We do not recommend it before age 6. After that, if the child wants to, show them the gesture without forcing and supervise the first few times; brushing remains the priority.
In short
- Steel or copper, the technique and the result are the same; it is the shape that removes the coating, not the metal.
- The 2019 Cochrane review rates the evidence on tongue cleaning as very uncertain: a cleaning tool, not a treatment.
- “Antibacterial” copper is not demonstrated for this object; it tarnishes and needs a little care.
- Once a day, back to front, without forcing, on top of brushing and cleaning between the teeth.
- Bad breath that persists should be shown to a dentist, then a doctor.