How to Clean a Tongue Scraper (Steel, Copper and Plastic)

To clean a tongue scraper, rinse it under warm running water right after each use, wash it with mild soap and water every few days, and let it air dry somewhere it is not sealed in while wet. A one-piece stainless steel scraper can also go in the dishwasher or be boiled for a deeper clean. Copper should be hand washed, dried and polished now and then, and plastic should be replaced once it cracks or roughens. The steps below cover each material, how to store it, and when to throw a scraper away.

How to clean a tongue scraper after every use

1. Rinse immediately under warm running water, rubbing the edge with your thumb to remove the film. Do it before the residue dries.
2. Shake off the water and check the edge and any curves or holes for leftover residue.
3. Let it air dry standing up or hanging, not lying in a puddle.

This mirrors the ADA's advice for toothbrushes: rinse thoroughly after each use and let it air dry, because storing a damp brush in a closed container promotes more microbial growth than leaving it exposed to the air (ADA).

How to deep clean a tongue scraper

Every few days, or any time it looks or smells less than clean:

• Soap and water. Wash with a drop of mild dish soap, using your fingers or a soft brush on the edge. Rinse until no soap remains.
• Dishwasher (stainless steel only). A one-piece stainless steel scraper can go in the cutlery basket.
• Boiling (stainless steel only). Put it in a pan of boiling water for a few minutes, lift it out with tongs, and let it cool and dry. This is useful after you have been ill.

Avoid bleach, oven cleaner and abrasive scouring pads. They are unnecessary, can leave residue you then put in your mouth, and pads can scratch the edge.

Cleaning by material

Material	Everyday	Deep clean	Watch for
Stainless steel	Rinse, air dry	Soap, dishwasher or boiling	Bends or a rough edge
Copper	Rinse, dry with a cloth	Soap and water; polish off tarnish with a copper cleaner, rinse well	Tarnish (cosmetic), bending
Plastic	Rinse, air dry	Soap and water; check the label before using heat	Cracks, scratches, a rough or chalky edge

Copper darkens as it reacts with air and moisture. The tarnish is cosmetic, but most people polish it off; rinse thoroughly afterward so no cleaner is left on the scraper. More on the trade-offs in copper vs stainless steel.

Can you boil a tongue scraper?

A one-piece stainless steel scraper, yes. Plastic scrapers and scrapers with glued or rubber handles usually cannot, since heat can warp the plastic or loosen the joint; check the packaging. Copper can tolerate boiling water but will tarnish faster. Boiling is not needed daily. Rinsing and drying keeps a scraper clean for normal use; boiling is an occasional extra.

How to store a tongue scraper

• Let it dry before closing it in anything. A wet scraper in a sealed case or wash bag stays damp, which the ADA notes encourages microbial growth on toothbrushes.
• Keep it away from the toilet and separate from other people's toothbrushes and scrapers.
• Use a ventilated case for travel, one with openings that let air reach the scraper.
• Do not share it. The ADA advises against sharing toothbrushes because it exchanges body fluids and microorganisms; treat a scraper the same way.

Can you use toothpaste or mouthwash to clean it?

You do not need to. Toothpaste contains mild abrasives that can scratch plastic and dull a polished finish, and mouthwash adds nothing that rinsing, soap and drying do not already do. The ADA mentions that one study found soaking toothbrushes in 3% hydrogen peroxide or an antiseptic mouthwash reduced bacteria on them (ADA); if you want to do something similar with a scraper, rinse it well afterward.

When to replace a tongue scraper

• The edge is rough, chipped or sharp to the touch
• It has bent out of shape so it no longer sits flat across your tongue
• Plastic has cracked, scratched deeply or discolored
• A handle or joint has loosened and trapped residue

A smooth, undamaged metal scraper can last years. Plastic ones need replacing more often, since they scratch and crack with use. Zoral's tongue scraper is one piece of 316L stainless steel with no seams to trap residue, so it can be boiled or put in the dishwasher, and the 2-pack with two ventilated travel cases lets it dry rather than sitting damp in a bag.

The bottom line

Cleaning a tongue scraper is easy: rinse after every use, wash with soap now and then, and let it dry before you shut it away. Stainless steel can go in the dishwasher or be boiled, copper needs drying and polishing, and plastic needs replacing when it wears. For the scraping technique itself, see how to use a tongue scraper.