About half of us brush our teeth twice a day, as recommended by dentists. The other half brushes once a day, sometimes or hardly ever.

Three out of four Australians never floss, which leaves the little spaces between your teeth perfect for fermenting a kind of bacteria.

The thinking is: Brushing should be enough.

But, according to a 2023 report from the Australian Dental Association (ADA), brushing only does 60 per cent of the job ridding the teeth of the bacteria strains that cause decay.

Flossing tackles the remaining 40 per cent. So that’s the teeth and gums taken care of. The gums are a breeding ground for bacteria.

But what about the tongue?

Whenever TikTok promotes a purportedly new health trend, a common reflex is to believe it must be hokum.

The Conversation in March ran a critical piece about TikTokers claiming that using tongue scrapers can treat bad breath.

The author – Zoe Brookes, Associate Professor of Dental Education and Research, University of Plymouth – would like to see more quality evidence for the claim.

Still, Brookes allowed that “based on the limited evidence out there, it does seem that regularly using a tongue scraper may help remove biofilms and improve bad breath”.

However, she said, the studies found that “the benefits of tongue scraping were short lived and needed to be done using a specific technique to be effective”.

This 2021 study that concluded: “It can be confirmed that mechanical tongue cleaning is effective at reducing bad breath and tongue coating.”

The caveat? Using a toothbrush was just as effective as using a tongue scraper.

However, a 2004 study found that tongue scrapers removed 30 per cent more volatile sulphur compounds on the tongue than a soft-bristled toothbrush. Volatile sulphur compounds are a major cause of halitosis.

All of which is to say: Science says tongue cleaning is a useful thing.

According to Healthline, routinely scraping the tongue can improve the tongue’s appearance lessening or removing the white coat that accumulates from time to time.

Overall, scraping helps “remove debris, bacteria, and dead cells and may have other benefits, including improving your sense of taste”.

A report from the Cleveland Clinic agrees that improved taste is a key benefit: “When you scrape off the surface of your tongue, it’s almost as if you’re starting with an entirely fresh palette.”

A 2004 study supports this claim, noting: “The taste sensation improved after two weeks of tongue cleaning, especially with the scraper.”

The Cleveland report notes scraping your tongue is protective of teeth and gums. This is because it “can remove harmful bacteria that inflames your gums as well as prevent cavities”.

A 2005 study found that using a tongue scraper, twice a day, for seven days, reduced the amount of mutans streptococci and lactobacilli in patients with caries and periodontal disease.

Tongue scrapers cost about $10 for a plastic one, and $20 or so for a metal one. A spoon can be used if you want a cheap option.