It's important to see a dentist regularly if you want to fight the typical teeth problems that can come with age. Anti-aging dentistry can encompass so many things, and it starts at home. How well you take care of your oral health care is very important. Tongue scraping can be a part of that dental care to keep your teeth clean and healthy.
Tongue scraping is a popular dental care habit among adults who seek to banish bacteria and toxins from their tongues. It makes sense since bacteria tend to accumulate there. However, using a tongue scraper, which is also known as a tongue cleaner, is not as popular as brushing one's teeth, flossing, or switching with mouthwash. So what's the deal with the lower popularity of this oral health care practice? Consider these facts before you start tongue scraping.
Benefits of Tongue Scraping
Tongue brushing can work wonders for your oral health care. For example, using a tongue brush can significantly reduce bad breath. Because the bad breath is caused by bacteria, which can be plentiful on the tongue before scraping, it makes sense that tongue brushing can help solve this problem.
Potential Perils of Tongue Scraping
With the many benefits of tongue scraping, there are few potential drawbacks. Make sure that you choose a tooth scraper without pointed edges, or you may accidentally scratch the tongue. Also, tongue-scraping can cause a gag reflex if you put the tongue scraper too far back in your mouth. This shouldn't cause a problem for most people, but you may want to be careful if you have a strong gag reflex.
Techniques for Tongue Brushing
It's best to scrape your tongue right after you wake up. You should try doing so before you have breakfast or get the kids up for school. Try brushing the tongue for approximately 30 seconds. Simply open up your mouth, stick out your tongue, and start brushing it from the back of your tongue to the front.
Be sure to go slowly and be very gentle on your tongue. Rinse the tongue scraper every time you scrape, and carefully go over your tongue around five times or until it looks clean after scraping. Don't forget to rinse your mouth out after scraping your tongue.
Where to Find Tongue Scrapers
Tongue scrapers are usually found in drug stores as well as the health and beauty aid section of grocery stores and big box stores. Some dentist offices have them available, or they can let you know where you can get high quality tongue scrapers in your area.
Finally, keep in mind that tongue scraping can kick bad breath to the curb. Talk to a dentist, such as Dr. Mahnaz Rashti, about whether tongue brushing should be a dental care habit that you implement each day. Your dentist may also be able to recommend a tongue scraper that will be best suited for you.
Share20 March 2017
After dealing with a few root canals, I realized that it was time to take my dental hygiene a more seriously. I talked with my dentist about what I could do differently, and he was full of great suggestions that would help. He walked me through different ways to brush, floss, and take care of tartar buildup, and it was really amazing to see the difference that it made. I also started taking a fluoride supplement to strengthen my enamel. When I made it to my next appointment, my dentist was blown away with the improvement. This blog is all about improving your dental appointments by keeping your teeth healthier.
