Tongue Scrapers
TONGUE SCRAPERS
Tongue scrapers are the secret weapon to oral hygiene we often forget about.
They remove bacteria, debris, and dead cells that build up on our tongues over time.
Tongue scrapers:
- Improve your sense of taste. It is suggested that using a tongue scraper twice daily can improve your sense of taste. Your tongue may be able to better distinguish between bitter, sweet, salty, and sour sensations.
- Improve the appearance of your tongue. Buildup of excess debris can cause your tongue to take on a white, coated appearance.
- Remove bacteria. Researchers found that using a tongue scraper twice a day for seven days reduced the overall incidence of Mutans streptococci and Lactobacilli bacteria in the mouth. These bacteria types are linked to bad breath and dental decay.
- Improve overall oral health. Removing bacteria is key to preventing cavities, gum disease, and other conditions affecting the mouth.
How to use:
To perform tongue scraping, follow these steps:
- Stand in front of a mirror, open your mouth, and stick out your tongue (ok seems easy enough)
- Gently set the rounded end of the tongue scraper at the back of your tongue. (you may find it helpful to start at the middle of your tongue if you have a hyper-sensitive gag reflex)
- Gently touch the scraper to your tongue, pulling it forward towards the tip of your tongue. Always go from the back of the tongue to the tip.
- After each scrape, use a washcloth or tissue to remove debris from the scraper.
- Repeat until you’ve scraped the entire surface of your tongue. One to two scrapes across the same area is usually enough.
- Wash the tongue scraper with warm water and soap, dry, and store in a clean, dry area.
- Done!
