An Instagram reel by author and speaker Dr Daniel Pompa has sparked widespread discussion online over claims that tongue scraping can prevent heart disease and Alzheimer’s disease.

Pompa, who has 17 lakh followers on Instagram, demonstrates tongue scraping while claiming it boosts nitric oxide, lowers blood pressure, improves brain function, and prevents gum disease—allegedly reducing the risk of serious illnesses like Alzheimer’s and heart disease. 

In the reel, Pompa urges viewers to make tongue scraping a daily habit, recommending it “twice a day” as part of their oral hygiene routine. He claims that by stimulating “the good bacteria,” the practice can even help improve gut health. 

The post has gone viral, with over 4 lakh views, 8,651 likes, and more than 16,200 shares.

Who is Dr Daniel Pompa?

Pompa is not a medical doctor. According to his website, he “received his undergraduate degree in communication from The University of Pittsburgh, and his doctor of chiropractic degree in 1995 from Life University.” However, he retired from his chiropractic work in 2011 and started coaching people with neurotoxic challenges.  

Does tongue scraping prevent heart disease and Alzheimer’s disease?

Research has shown that oral health has an impact on cardiovascular health and even Alzheimer’s disease.  A 2023 meta-analysis assessed 26 studies examining periodontal disease, which is essentially gum disease, and cardiovascular disease (CVD), including coronary heart disease, hypertension, stroke, and heart failure.  

“Cardiovascular disease is relatively common in patients with periodontal disease, and an increased risk of CVD is associated with periodontal disease independent of sex,” it found. 

A 2024 review found that “Overall, the studies revealed that along with surgical and non-surgical periodontal therapy, regular oral hygiene care practices, including toothbrushing, tongue brushing, and flossing, significantly reduced the risk of cardiovascular events and mortality.” However, the authors noted that evidence on the direct therapeutic effects of oral hygiene promotion on cardiovascular outcomes remains limited, highlighting the need for further investigation. 

A 2025 review also found a link between periodontal disease and Alzheimer’s. “One notable finding is the detection of specific periodontal pathogens, such as Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis), in the brains of individuals with AD (Alzheimer’s disease). This suggests a possible link between chronic oral infections and neurodegeneration. These pathogens are believed to exacerbate neuroinflammatory processes by activating microglia and promoting systemic inflammation, which is central to AD pathogenesis,” it reads, while also calling for more research “to clarify the biological mechanisms underlying this association.”  

However, while oral health and hygiene is important and seems to be associated with cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer’s disease,  there is no direct evidence that tongue scraping can prevent heart disease or AD.  

What do the experts say?

Dr Ashish Kakar, Dental Surgeon and Senior Consultant at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi, explained that maintaining cleanliness in the mouth is fundamental to preventing disease. He noted that while some bacteria on the tongue can be beneficial, most accumulate during the day and may contribute to foul breath and gum disease. 

“There is a strong relationship between gum disease and heart disease, which has been proven over a period of time,” he said, adding that both are inflammatory conditions. He highlighted that the same bacteria found in dental plaques are also present in arterial plaques in cases of atherosclerosis. 

On the link with Alzheimer’s, Dr Kakkar was cautiously optimistic: “The theory looks very favourable that when you remove these bacteria, nitric oxide formation improves, which is better for oral and mental health.” 

He acknowledged the growing body of evidence connecting oral hygiene with systemic health, but stressed the need for more robust trials. “When reports like this come into highlight, they do hold some value, because there is some scientific evidence to show that. However, large-scale data is still needed, and such trials can take three to five years,” he explained. 

In the meantime, he firmly recommended tongue cleaning as part of daily oral hygiene. According to him, brushing removes plaque and bacteria from teeth, but “the bacteria that grow on the tongue are very difficult to clean as compared to brushing. That is why tongue cleaning is equally important.” 

“So yes, we can say that this claim holds some truth, but more scientific evidence is needed. It’s a very good start to establish this causal relationship,” Dr Kakkar added.  

However, doctors warned that the way we clean our tongues also matters. Commenting on the metal tongue scraper shown in the reel, Dr Anand S, Specialist in Oral Medicine and Radiology at MIDAC Dental Center, Kozhikode, cautioned against its use. “No, never. We should not use a metallic tongue cleaner,” he said, explaining that the papillae—commonly known as taste buds- are very delicate and can be damaged by hard scraping. “If the papillae are destroyed, it can even lead to tastelessness,” he warned. 

Dr Anand further noted that aggressive scraping with metal can increase the risk of fungal infections. Instead, he recommends safer alternatives: “I usually tell patients to use the back side of a toothbrush or a plastic scraper, which are much gentler and less destructive.”

Also read: Decoding the link between formal education & Alzheimer’s disease