Learning the Essentials of Tongue Scraping to Achieve the Best Oral Health

Tongue scraping is an effective method to remove plaque collected on the tongue. This ensures the maintenance of good oral health and significantly reduces bad breath. Tongue scraping is an essential step in your everyday dental hygiene routine. You can scrape your tongue clean using a rounded plastic or metal tool.

Benefits of Tongue Scraping

Tongue scraping cannot replace brushing. It is as important as brushing your teeth every day and night. Take a quick scan of the benefits associated with tongue scraping:

Gets Rid of Bacteria

Bacteria found on the tongue can be effectively scraped out using a tongue scraper. However, it is worthy of note here that this may not prevent the development of bacteria during the course of the day, which is why it is important to scrape your tongue twice a day and maintain the habit indefinitely.

Reduces Bad Mouth Odor

Tongue scraping is known to reduce bad breath immensely. In fact, a study conducted in 2004 found that it can be more effective than brushing when it comes to battling bad breath.

Enhances Sense of Taste

When plaque and bacteria form layers on your tongue, it can shadow taste. So, clean your tongue every day to get a better sweet, salty, sour, and bitter taste.

Improves the Appearance

The buildup of all food residues can lead to a white coating on your tongue. You can get rid of this by scraping it out every morning.

Keeps Up Overall Oral Health

Keeping your tongue clean will help prevent bacteria that would otherwise cause cavities, gum disease, and other dental conditions.

How to Perform Tongue Scraping

Many toothbrushes today come with ridges at the back of the head that can be used to scrape your tongue. While that is certainly a quick alternative, we recommend using a dedicated copper, stainless steel, or plastic tongue scraper for longtime usage.

If you are not familiar with the process, here’s how you should scrape your tongue:

• Once you are done brushing, pick up your tongue scraper and stand in front of the mirror.
• Stick your tongue out and place the rounded part of the scraper at the back of the tongue while you hold either side of the open ends.
• If you have tried this before and end up gagging each time you scrape your tongue, take a step back in the process. Instead of placing the scraper at the back of your tongue, place it in the middle. You can start from the further back once you are used to the process.
• Then, gently scrape the tongue, making sure you do not press too hard. Pressing too hard can cause slits on your tongue that could bleed.
• Keep in mind that the movement of the scraper should be from the back of the tongue to the tip of the tongue, never the other way around.
• Repeat the process 2-3 times until you get rid of the white coating on your tongue.
• Finally, clean your tongue scraper with warm water and store it in a clean and dry area.

A well-rounded oral hygiene routine that includes brushing, flossing, tongue scraping, and mouth rinsing will improve your overall oral health. Follow the routine and visit your dentist at least twice a year to have healthy teeth and gums.