Tongue Scraping: Everything You Need To Know
While perusing your local drug store isles, you may be overwhelmed with the variety of products and tools available for us to tend to our oral health. We have a plethora of toothpaste brands, all different kinds of toothbrushes and floss, and mouthwash found in all colors of the rainbow. Did you know one of the most important components of tending to our oral health is cleaning our tongue properly? Our ancestors have been doing it for centuries, and the cleaning of the tongue was a critical part of Indian medicine. Ancient tongue scrapers have been found all over the world in archaeological digs, and the most interesting part - the technology for a tongue scraper has not changed at all!
What Is Tongue Scraping?
Tongue scraping is a method for cleaning the tongue using a special device. Most often, a tongue scraper is found in a spoon-like, or U-shaped metal device with two handles at the end. While most toothbrushes do come with a small rubbery portion found on the back of the head of a toothbrush, this does not quite get the job done like a tongue scraping tool that’s specifically for cleaning the tongue.
Oftentimes, when brushing your tongue, the bacteria that is on there is just being moved around and not being completely removed. With the use of a tongue scraper, it allows you to reach your whole tongue, and remove almost all of the bacteria that builds up over time.
Tongue Scraping Health Benefits
Tongue scraping is not a substitute for flossing or brushing your teeth, but an additional way to improve your oral health. Tongue scraping can help alleviate bad breath, plaque buildup, gingivitis, and white tongue.
White tongue is when the tiny bumps (papillae) that line your tongue swell or become inflamed, causing your tongue to turn a shade of white. Food, dirt, bacteria, fungi, and dead cells can become trapped between the enlarged papillae, which can cause the color distortion. The most efficient way to protect yourself from these health risks is tongue scraping!
How To Tongue Scrape
1. Select a tongue scraping instrument (read below on where to find one near you!)
2. Stick out your tongue as far as you can
3. Place the tongue scraper toward the back of your tongue
4. Apply gentle pressure and pull the scraper forward toward the tip of your tongue (the scraper should not hurt).
5. Rinse scraper with water after the first go.
6. Repeat scraping process as needed
7. Rinse mouth with water
It’s important to wash the tongue scraper with soap and warm water in order to keep bacteria from lingering. Store the tongue scraper in a clan, dry place between uses.
Where To Buy One
Tongue scrapers are pretty much sold at any common chain store, such as Target, Walgreens, CVS, and more. You can also purchase a tongue scraper off of Amazon, they range from $5-$10 depending on if you purchase a plastic or metal scraper. Metal scrapers are a better choice in comparison to plastic, because they are easier to clean and will last longer than plastic.
Our oral health is a part of our daily lives and should always maintain a priority. When thinking of oral care, it’s important to not just think of your teeth, but your tongue as well. After all, it is the one thing in constant contact with your pearly whites. Tongue scraping is an easy step to add into your daily routine, and a great way to improve your oral health altogether!