A tongue cleaner (also
called a tongue scraper or tongue brush) is
an oral hygiene device designed to clean the coating on
the upper surface of the tongue. While there is tentative
benefit from the use of a tongue cleaner it is insufficient to draw clear
conclusions regarding bad breath. A 2006 Cochrane review
found tentative evidence of decreased levels of odor molecules. The large
surface area and lingual papilla are anatomical features of the
tongue that promote tongue coating by retaining microorganisms and
oral debris consisting of food, saliva and dead epithelial cells.Tongue cleaning is
done less often than tooth brushing, flossing, and using mouthwash.