The essential products you need for excellent oral hygiene include a soft-bristled toothbrush, the proper toothpaste for your mouth, and dental floss. These allow most people to prevent tooth decay and gum disease, the two most commonly treated dental problems.
However, other products are available to supplement these and improve your overall oral hygiene. These products include interdental flossers, water flossers, electric toothbrushes, teeth whitening products, and various mouthwashes. In addition, a lesser-known and often overlooked oral hygiene device is the tongue scraper.
To find out all of the dental hygiene methods you could use to keep your mouth healthy schedule an appointment with Trident General Dentistry.
What Is a Tongue Scraper?
Tongue scrapers are simple dental devices you can use to clean your tongue. Most tongue scrapers are metal or plastic with a semi-circular cleaning head and a longer, easily grasped handle. Newer tongue scrapers with ergonomic design conform more precisely to the shape of the tongue. In addition, they are enhanced to lift and remove the plaque coating the tongue. Some people use a tongue scraper as a part of their home oral hygiene routine.
What is Tongue Scraping?
Tongue scraping is a method of cleaning debris, particularly bacteria, from the surface of your tongue. Tongue hygiene is a part of daily oral hygiene in Ayurveda, the traditional practice of medicine in India. It has been used for centuries in other parts of the world. Some historical writings allude to the Romans cleaning their tongues.
Tongue scraping was popularized in the United States in the twentieth century when various tongue scrapers became commercially available. However, the conflicting results of studies on the effectiveness of tongue scraping have made it somewhat controversial among dental professionals.
How to Use a Tongue Scraper
You can begin by brushing your tongue with your toothbrush and toothpaste. While brushing does remove some surface plaque and bacteria, some studies conclude that tongue scraping removes bacteria more effectively and improves bad breath.
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Make sure you clean and rinse your tongue scraper before using.
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Begin at the back of your tongue. Pull the tongue scraper all the way to the front of your tongue.
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Repeat 2-3 times using light pressure.
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Rinse the tongue scraper between scrapes.
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Clean the center and sides of your tongue.
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Rinse your mouth and the tongue scraper.
Benefits of a Clean Tongue
The studies still seem inconclusive, but there is evidence that tongue scraping does offer several benefits and poses no risk of harm when done correctly. The proposed benefits of using a tongue scraper include:
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Enhanced taste. The surface of your tongue is covered with thousands of taste buds. When you clean your tongue, you are getting rid of food particles and debris that hinder your taste.
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Freshened breath. Bacteria that cause bad breath live inside your mouth, including on the surface of your tongue. Tongue scraping can be another oral hygiene tool to keep your breath smelling fresher.
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Improved oral and overall health. When you clean your tongue, you remove the bacteria that cause gum disease and tooth decay. Recent studies also show links between these bacteria and medical conditions; such as heart disease, diabetes, and dementia.
Should I Use a Tongue Scraper?
You can undoubtedly maintain healthy teeth and gums with toothbrushing, flossing, and regular dental checkups. However, since having a clean tongue poses no health risk and may offer significant benefits, you might want to incorporate one into your daily oral hygiene routine.
Schedule an Appointment
To learn more about preventing tooth decay, gum disease, and bad breath, call us today and schedule an appointment for a comprehensive oral examination and teeth cleaning.