Do you own a tongue scraper? If you don’t, you are putting your oral health at risk.
If you are like most people, you likely have the notion that using an electric or a bamboo toothbrush is all it takes to have healthy teeth. But the truth is that it involves more than that.
Dentists have pointed out that one needs to brush, floss, and use a tongue scraper to get rid of the bacterial build-up. Several studies have shown that if the harmful bacteria in our mouth aren’t removed, they can cause severe oral health conditions.
In this article, we are going to explore reasons why you should start using tongue scrapers.
What is tongue scraping?
Tongue scraping is the most effective way to get rid of food particles and bacteria mass that is stuck on your tongue. Tongue scraping is done with a tool known as a tongue scraper. There are metal and plastic models of tongue scrapers on the market.
Granted, tongue scrapers are great and can effectively remove bacterial mass from our tongue, but they can’t take the place of a toothbrush. Dentists will never recommend using them alone as they can only clean the tongue.
Five benefits of using a tongue scraper
According to a recent study, fifty percent of the adult population has bad breath.
Researchers have found that the build-up of bacteria, dead cells, and debris in the tongue is one of the main causes of bad breath.
With the help of tongue scrapers, you will be able to get rid of the build-up on your tongue and enjoy a few other benefits. Below are some of them.
A tongue scraper can help eliminate bacteria
A study that was conducted in 2005 found that using tongue scrapers consistently can reduce the amount of Lactobacilli and Mutans streptococci in the mouth. Other studies have shown that these bacteria can cause tooth decay and bad breath.
Using a tongue scraper may improve your sense of taste
Thanks to the taste buds which are located on our tongue, we can taste food and drinks easily. If you haven’t been getting the full taste of the food and drink you consume, chances are, your taste buds are blocked.
Tongue scrapers can help you unblock them and drastically improve your sense of taste. A study that was conducted a while back, suggests that using tongue scrappers two times every day can make all the difference. And when your taste buds are unblocked it will be easy for you to distinguish between sour, bitter, and sweet tastes.
Improves your tongue’s appearance
If you haven’t been cleaning your tongue before or have only been using a bamboo toothbrush or a plastic toothbrush, its appearance is going to change. The build-up of bacteria, food remains, and dead cells may cause your tongue to change from rich red to white.
A toothbrush may be able to remove a small amount of the build-up, but it can’t totally improve the appearance of your tongue. Only tongue scrapers can revert the appearance of your tongue to its original state.
Using a tongue scraper can Improve your general health
Not using a tongue scraper may contribute to the accumulation of harmful bacteria in your mouth.
These bacteria can cause conditions like cavities, tooth decay, gum disease, and so on. Using a tongue scraper is by far one of the most effective ways to get rid of these harmful bacteria.
Keep in mind that these bacteria can also affect our general health if we allow them to accumulate.
Eliminates bad breath
If you are really serious about getting rid of your bad breath for good, then you should start using tongue scrapers. As mentioned above, the accumulation of dead cells and bacteria causes bad breath. So if you are able to eliminate them, you won’t have bad breath. A 2004 study found that tongue scrapers are effective at eliminating odor-causing bacteria.
Don’t forget that tongue scraping isn’t an alternative to tooth brushing. To clean your mouth effectively, you have to brush, floss, and use a tongue scraper.
Final note
The benefits of using a tongue scraper are endless. So if you don’t have one you are missing out. Remember that tongue scrappers can do a lot more than making your tongue look great. As mentioned above, a tongue scraper can help eliminate bad breath and prevent some oral health conditions.
Regardless of the type of tongue scraper you purchase you need to learn how to use it correctly. Be careful not to go overboard so that you don’t injure your tongue. The entire process shouldn’t be longer than two minutes.