The tongue that is never cleaned or scraped is the main reason why bad breath explodes from the mouth. Tongue scraping is beneficial to overall oral health. It sweeps away bacteria and dead cells that stay in the tongue over time that lead to embarrassing bad breath. Unfortunately, the tongue is often forgotten. Brushing teeth alone is not enough.
For sure, you have the following tools to maintain your oral health:
· Toothbrush
· Toothpaste
· Mouthwash
· Dental Floss
You brush twice a day for two minutes each brushing. You gargle with mouthwash after brushing. You floss once a day before or after brushing. But you are forgetting “to scrape off” the surface of your tongue with a Tongue Scraper to remove odor-causing bacteria that build up after each meal.
Well, brushing your tongue will at least remove extra particles and odor-causing bacteria on the surface of your tongue, but the use of “Tongue Scraper” will make it better.
Scraping your tongue with a Tongue Scraper in the morning and the evening gives plenty of benefits. According to research, tongue scrapers remove 30% more volatile sulfur compounds on the tongue than soft-bristled toothbrushes. Even though cleaning your tongue with a toothbrush is healthier than not cleaning it at all; on the other hand, using a tongue scraper is found more effective than scrubbing your tongue with your toothbrush. Adding this step to your morning and evening routines will give you the following benefits:
· Reduces Bad Breath
If you wonder why after brushing your teeth you still have bad breath, it is because of the odor-causing bacteria that were not scraped off on your tongue. Bacteria build up after every meal. What more if you are not scraping it day by day. Scraping your tongue helps you to minimize embarrassing bad breath. It aids in the reduction of oral malodor as it sweeps away bacteria out of the mouth that cannot be done by brushing alone.
· Takes away Bacteria out of the Mouth
Billions of bacteria stay in the mouth. The tongue is the home of Mutans streptococci and Lactobacilli bacteria that cause bad breath and dental decay. It is very important to understand that your mouth is the gateway to the rest of your body. Each time you drink water, you let these bacteria enter your bloodstream. Sooner or later, it impacts your immune system. Poor oral hygiene is letting bad bacteria take over your whole body.
With the use of a tongue scraper, you are sweeping away the bacteria that live in your tongue.
· Improves Sense of Taste
Researches have proven that tongue scraping improves the sense of taste as it decreases the amount of tongue coating and putrefaction or rotting caused by bacteria. It eliminates microbial overload on the tongue. Thus, it improves taste sensations for bitter, sweet, salty, and sour.
· Improves Oral Health
While you brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes each, gargles using antibacterial mouthwash and flosses regularly, you might be missing one step that will keep your mouth fresh and healthy — scraping your tongue. Tongue scraping removes bacteria that cause cavities, gum disease, unpleasant smell, and other conditions affecting the mouth. It helps in eliminating food debris and dead cells on the tongue surface that will cause all the trouble in the mouth.
· Improves Overall Health
When loads of bad bacteria are present in the mouth, they enter the bloodstream and affect the immune system. They can provoke diseases such as in the heart, lungs, liver, brain, and other parts of the body. They can cause pneumonia, esophageal cancer, hepatitis, rheumatoid arthritis, and heart disease. In addition, a new study confirmed that bacteria in the mouth release toxins that make their way into the brain and contribute to Alzheimer’s disease. Thus, it is important to consider proper and complete oral health care for the improvement of the overall health of the body.
· Maintains Tongue Color and Healthy Appearance
A healthy tongue must be pink with a thin white coating on the surface. If your tongue indicates other colors, such as red, dark pink, purple, blue, yellow, white, gray, brown, black, you have some health issues. Nevertheless, the white or black (dark brown) tongue is often associated with poor oral hygiene habits. A white tongue is typically caused by white patches that grow on the surface because of fungal infections. A dark brown to the black-colored tongue is most commonly attributed to bacteria from poor oral hygiene habits aside from having diabetes. Maintain the natural color of your tongue and its healthy appearance by scraping the white coating caused by loads of bacteria on the tongue’s surface.
To achieve these amazing benefits, you need the right tool – a tongue scraper. A tongue scraper can be made from plastic, copper, or stainless steel. After brushing, wash your tongue scraper and position it on the surface of your tongue. Stick out your tongue and gently pull it forward towards the tip of your tongue. Make sure to reach the back of your tongue to remove the loads of bacteria that might enter your system. Never push it from the tip to the back of your tongue to avoid gagging. Jut scrape from the back to the tip. Repeat the process until the entire surface has been scraped. Do not forget to wash the tongue scraper and wipe it with a clean cloth to remove the debris and bacteria. Store it in a clean and dry area.
Consistency is the key. Scraping is not just done once. It is encouraged every after meal to attain the amazing benefits.
The tongue is very important. You should take care of your tongue always to avoid the following conditions:
· Hairy Tongue
Papillae can overgrow the surface of the tongue. It gives the tongue a white or black appearance. Scraping it off corrects this harmless condition.
· Thrush or Candidiasis
A yeast grows over the surface of the mouth and tongue.
· Oral Leukoplakia
White patches appear on the tongue that cannot be anymore scraped off. Leukoplakia can progress to oral cancer.
· Oral Cancer
This is more common to people who heavily smoke and drink alcohol.
A well-versed approach to improving oral hygiene includes tongue scraping. It helps in maintaining and improving your oral health. Include drinking plenty of water to avoid dry mouth. This is the common cause of bad breath. See your dentist every six months or go depending on your oral need.
