People need to understand how to take care of their mouths for optimal health, and it involves more than just brushing and flossing. A relatively new method that is being adopted by an increasing number of people around the world is tongue scraping. But is it truly effective? And should you contemplate it as an addition to your oral health care? In this blog, we’ll cover all the basics of tongue scraping, what it can do, and if you should be using a tongue scraper for a cleaner mouth.
What is Tongue Scraping?
Tongue cleaning is a basic procedure that helps to eliminate the invasion of bacteria, crumbs from the food we eat, and dead cells on the surface of our tongue. This is done with a small plastic, copper, or stainless tongue scraper tool. The scraper is smoothly moved over the tongue’s surface to clear chunks of debris and toxins that may develop on the surface during the day.
The back part of your tongue is also most favorable for bacterial growth because it contains a large, rough surface coated with food deposits and bacteria. The tongue can be cleaned using a scraper or cup, and taking time to do this can help check for bad breath and even enhance oral hygiene.
The Benefits of Cleaning Your Tongue
Some people may not know that the tongue is among the components that help clean your mouth. It is shocking to learn that you will reap various health gains when you clean your tongue well.
1. Improves Breath Freshness
Among the reasons why you need to clean your tongue, the first one is to combat bad breath. The tongue surface provides a good place for bacteria and food particles that, in turn, cause bad breath. The tongue scraper ejects such particles out to help you breathe better all day long.
2. Enhances Taste Sensation
Tongue cleaning also contributes in improving your taste buds Cleaning your tongue also helps enhance your taste sensation. If you have a layer from debris and bacteria covering your tongue then it will affect the way your taste buds respond. Cleaning your tongue helps get rid of this layer thus enabling your taste buds serve you the best they can.
3. Promotes Overall Oral Health
Gentle scraping of the tongue can dramatically affect your oral hygiene. Since the unhealthy bacteria is eliminated, the chances of tooth decay and other diseases such as gum problems and even some infections are minimized. When the bacteria present on the tongue become accumulated they form plaque deposits which causes tooth decay.
4. Reduces the Florida of Tooth Decay
This bad breath then comes as a result of bacteria and food particles not being washed away from the tongue which end up on the teeth to aid in plaque build up. Food remnants can develop plaque and then tartar that results in tooth decay and gum diseases. Cleaning your tongue has proven to lower this risk and thus should be performed more frequently.
5. Enhances The Body’s Ability To Fight Off Diseases
For instance, bacteria that grows on your tongue can penetrate your blood stream and cause inflammation and other problems over time. Using a tongue scraper you are removing large quantities of bacteria in your mouth, which might ultimately strengthen your immune system.
How to Use a Tongue Scraper
The concept behind the tongue scraper is quite easy and only takes a few steps to accomplish.
Step 1: Tongue scraper selection
In this present world, there are many varieties of tongue scrapers accessible, which are of stainless steel, copper, or plastic. Pick one that you look relaxed in, and that is right for what you need.
Step 2: Most people use this Scraper to position the ‘scraper part on the backside of the tongue and then move it along to take a swab.
Insert the scraper at the back of your tongue. There is no need to apply a little pressure as you scrape move the scraper in a gentle manner across your tongue.
Step 3: Scrape in a Gentle Motion
While scraping, make on the tongue using an up and down motion, with a lot of pressure on the back tongue and little pressure in the front. Continue with this stroke several times, preferably 3 to 4 times or until the sensations of hardness are gone.
Step 4: Rinse and Clean the Scraper
Specifically, wipe it on the tongue scraper from you to the back of the mouth to capture a build up each time you make a round and to rinse the tongue scraper with warm water after each pass. This will help the fact that the scraper is clean for the next use.
Step 5: Clean Your Mouth
When you scrape your tongue, there are the following things that you have to do; the first one is rinsing your mouth with water or mouthwash.
Is Tongue Scraping Effective?
Of course, to get rid of bacteria and food debris from the surface of your tongue, it is advisable to use a tongue scraper. Researchers also demonstrate that morning tongue scraping can decrease the population of bacteria that dwell on your tongue, and in turn, improve breath and healthy oral hygiene. The use of a tongue scraper is also easy and quick, and therefore can be incorporated into the normal dental hygiene regimen.
There are many studies published, which shows that the tongue scraping is helpful. What it has been found to do is help in the area of breath freshness, decrease the bacterial count and be of help to the health of the mouth in general. Additionally, using a tongue scraper when employed alongside normal brushing and flossing will give a better oral health practice.
Should You Use a Tongue Scraper?
Now that we know tongue scraping has numerous benefits, the question is whether you should use a tongue scraper as part of your daily routine. While it is not strictly necessary for everyone, it can offer significant improvements to your oral health and breath. Here are a few factors to consider when deciding whether to include tongue scraping in your oral care:
- Bad Breath Issues
If you struggle with persistent bad breath (halitosis), a tongue scraper might be a helpful tool. Since the tongue is a major source of bacteria that cause bad breath, cleaning your tongue daily can significantly improve your breath.
- Overall Oral Hygiene
If you want to take your oral hygiene to the next level, using a tongue scraper can complement your regular brushing and flossing routine. It’s an additional step that helps you remove bacteria from a hard-to-reach area.
- No Sensitive Gums or Tongue
If you have sensitive gums or a sensitive tongue, be gentle when using a tongue scraper. Some people may find scraping too harsh or uncomfortable. If you experience pain or irritation, discontinue use and consult a dentist.
- Consistency is Key
To truly see the benefits of tongue scraping, you need to be consistent. Incorporating tongue scraping into your daily oral care routine can help maintain a cleaner mouth and fresher breath.
Can Tongue Scraping Replace Brushing and Flossing?
Even though you have decided to use a tongue scraper instead of a toothbrush or floss, it should not be an option. It facilitates what you usually do every day as part of your regimen. Tooth brushing thrice a day and flossing in the morning is, however, recommended for good oral health. Tongue scraping, however, improves your oral cleanliness since it helps remove germs and remnants that are not removed when brushing the teeth.
What Are the Risks of Tongue Scraping?
To many individuals, tongue scraping is not a risky affair. However, there are a few risks to keep in mind:
- Irritation: Scratching is recommended, and scraping too hard might cause harm, such as irritation or even cut your tongue. One should be gentle while applying it; there should not be much pressure while working on it.
- Infection: If your tongue scraper is not cleaned often, bacteria will enter the mouth, causing an infection.
- Sensitivity: These people may develop a gagging reaction that makes them feel uneasy when using a tongue scraper. If this is the case, try using a softer scraper or changing the way you scrape it.
Conclusion
Adding in a tongue scraper as another device when coming up with a plan to have a healthier mouth is going to be helpful. It helps rid the tongue of debris and bacteria and remove those remnants of food particles and toxic wastes that are responsible for the obnoxious smell, thereby improving your palate and, in general, oral hygiene. As much as using a tongue scraper is highly effective in addressing bad breath issues, it will also be helpful in addressing oral hygiene.
Nonetheless, if you opt to use the tongue scraping then its proper technique is appropriate, and do not apply pressure on the scraper over your tongue. If you have a routine of teeth brushing and flossing most of the time including scraping the tongue promotes overall mouth cleanliness and mouth taste. For further guidence or query visit North Eastview Dental.Â