Unfortunately, This $25 Tongue Scraper Is Worth It
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Back in 2018, I drank the Goop Kool-Aid and bought myself atongue scraper. Always sensitive to lingering tastes in my mouth (with a particular aversion to garlic), I felt it would help. I got myself a stainless-steel version from Amazon, a cheap variety that cost less than $10. It came with a “travel case,” more akin to a cloth sunglasses bag, and had rubber handles for easy gripping and scraping. It got the job done, and in fact, my breath did taste fresher.
I’m almost embarrassed to admit I used that same one for the last eight years, and only recently, did I start to notice its age showing, mostly around the handles. The color was beginning to fade, and it was getting a little grimy at the crevice where the stainless steel met the rubber. I had also thrown out the travel bag long ago and was storing it over the edge of the empty Diptyque candle that serves as mytoothbrush cup. It was time for an upgrade.
When an ad forKöppen, a new oral-care brand, came up on my Instagram feed, I was immediately drawn to its sleek, almost Scandinavian look.Was Byredo getting into the oral-care industry?Upon further investigation, I discoveredKöppen’s tongue scraperand noticed the tiny stone base it came with. No more leaning my tongue scraper against the walls of my medicine cabinet. Then I read its description about copper, “the most antimicrobial metal in the world.” I’ve never added something to my cart so quickly.
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The tongue scraper is part ofKöppen’s multistep oral-care line, which includes a mouthwash, oil pull, floss, and toothpaste, as well as mouth tape and lip balm, and costs $265. The first time I used the tongue scraper, I knew it was a step above what I was used to. The material was sturdier. It was still slightly bendable to fit the curve of my tongue, but it had more weight than my former scraper, which I think added to its efficiency. The copper it’s made of isnaturally antimicrobial, and the Ayurvedic texts tongue scraping originates inspecify the use of copper. There’s no metallic aftertaste, and the smooth, sturdy copper also seems to glide down my tongue more efficiently than my former tool, which means it takes fewer scrapes to reach my desired level of cleanliness.
What I love most about this tool, though, other than its ability to pull nasty biofilm from my tongue at the end of the day, is it’s absolutely beautiful — especially the travertine base. According to the brand, the base is inspired by Roman architecture and Indian temples, and apparently, each is one of a kind. It delights me every time I open my medicine cabinet, which I’ll attribute to why I’ve been more consistent with tongue scraping this last month than I had been the last five-plus years. So, yes, it’s not the cheapest version on the market, and the entire system is certainly a splurge. Still, I often refill a $40 sunscreen without blinking an eye; shouldn’t I give my teeth the same royal treatment?
More tongue cleaners we like
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Our best overall pick. It’s easy to hold and made of stainless steel, and the price is right.
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A cheaper copper option. It’s not as beautiful as the Köppen, but it gets the job done.
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For sensitive mouths, this plastic cleaner is softer on the tongue than harsh metal ones.
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