While more emphasis is placed on brushing your teeth, a clean tongue is equally as important to your oral hygiene. Forgetting to brush your tongue causes bacteria to accumulate, causing loss of taste, stinky breath, and discoloration. Although using a toothbrush is better than not cleaning your tongue at all, scrapers cover a larger area with every stroke, ensuring deeper cleaning. But are tongue scrapers worth it?
How to Scrape
Here’s how to clean your tongue with a scraper.
- Brush and floss as usual.
- With the tongue stuck out, drag your scraper from the back of the tongue to the tip.
- Repeat this process until you cover the entire tongue.
- Rinse your mouth.
- Wash, dry, and store the scraper in a clean place.
Are Tongue Scrapers Worth It? Yes!
Scraping your tongue supplements daily brushing in the following ways:
A Better Sense of Taste
Using tongue scrappers twice every day can boost your sense of taste, helping you differentiate sweet, bitter, sour, and salty food and drinks. According to a 2004 study in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology, two weeks of scraping reduced the tongue’s anaerobic and aerobic bacteria to improve taste sensations.
Improved Tongue Appearance
While tiny spots may go unnoticed, glaring yellow, white, or brown patches can make you self-conscious about your appearance when you talk, laugh, or smile, affecting communication and social interactions. Daily scraping not only removes the coating but also prevents it from reappearing.
Fresh Breath
Scraping eliminates volatile sulfur compounds which are primary culprits of halitosis. It also leaves your mouth feeling fresh—if you’re constantly left with a bad taste despite brushing your teeth, chances are you have lingering bacteria on the tongue.
Improved Overall Health
Tongue scraping eliminates bacteria that cause gum disease, cavities, and other dental conditions. Oral hygiene impacts other aspects of your well-being. For example, bacteria can enter your bloodstream and increase the risk of pneumonia, endocarditis, heart disease, and pregnancy complications.
Possible Side Effects
Now that you’ve answered the question, “Are tongue scrapers worth it,” let’s explore the risks of using this tool.
The first concern is gagging and even vomiting when you force the scraper to the back of your mouth. If you’re new to scraping, you can start from the middle of the tongue towards the tip, gradually pushing farther back as you get used to the sensation.
You also risk injuring your tongue when you scrape too hard. The solution is applying pressure mindfully. Keep it gentle enough to prevent skin breakage, yet firm enough to remove tongue residue. You should also check the scraper for rough edges.
Meet the Experts
So, are tongue scrapers worth it? Absolutely! Combining scraping with daily brushing is a sure way to maximize oral health. However, that’s not all it takes to keep your mouth healthy. Routine check-ups are also necessary to identify and manage emerging issues. That’s where LeCroy Dental comes in with innovative treatment and compassionate care. Protect your dental health by scheduling an appointment today!