Tongue scraper

India

Collected and donated by Richard Carnac Temple in 1892; 1892.41.171This tool was used to scrape the tongue from the back to the front several times. This cleared the tongue surface of bacteria, food debris and dead cells, all of which can cause bad breath.

In India, where this copper example was made, a traditional practice of medicine known as Aruymeda recommends tongue scraping as an essential part of the daily regime to rid the body and mind of toxins.