A portable, self-contained vacuum tongue cleaning device uses a removable cleaning head so that different heads can be used with different users. The device includes a debris and saliva separator that removes the debris and saliva from the vacuum flow. This separator is carried by the cleaning head in order to minimize required cleaning of the base of the device. The base carries a vacuum pump, a power supply, a switch, and an inlet that allows the power supply to be recharged. The device is configured for emergency use in an oral surgeons office wherein vacuum flow is required during surgeries.