Tongue Scraping for Good Oral Health
Your oral health is closely connected to your overall health. The mouth is filled with bacteria, some of which can lead to diseases if they find their way into your digestive and respiratory tracts. Proper oral hygiene, including regular brushing, flossing, and tongue scraping, can help maintain good oral health. We spoke with Dr. Sujit Chatterjee of Dr. LH Hiranandani Hospital, Powai, Mumbai, to learn more about tongue scraping and its benefits.
What is Tongue Scraping?
Tongue scraping is a technique used to clean the surface of the tongue using a tongue scraper or cleaner. The purpose is to remove bacteria, debris, dead cells, and food particles that accumulate on the tongue. A tongue scraper is a soft, flexible tool usually made of plastic or metal. By practicing tongue scraping, you can prevent oral health issues.
How to Use a Tongue Scraper?
Just like there is a proper way to brush your teeth, there is also a correct way to use a tongue scraper. Dr. Chatterjee provides the following guidelines:
Technique: Extend your tongue and gently place the scraper at the back of the tongue.
Scraping motion: Lightly press the scraper against the tongue’s surface and drag it forward towards the tip of your tongue.
Repeat: Repeat the scraping motion 3-5 times, covering the entire surface of the tongue.
Rinse: Rinse your mouth and the tongue scraper with water after each scraping.
Tongue scraping is recommended as a daily practice, preferably in the morning after brushing your teeth. It complements regular brushing and flossing, and helps maintain overall oral hygiene. Remember to keep the tongue scraper clean and dry after each use to prevent bacterial growth. If you experience discomfort or bleeding, stop tongue scraping and seek professional advice.
Benefits of Tongue Scraping for Oral Hygiene
Tongue scraping offers several benefits for oral hygiene:
1. Effectively removes harmful bacteria: Tongue scraping is important for oral hygiene as it removes harmful bacteria, dead cells, and food particles that accumulate on the tongue’s surface. This can prevent discoloration and the formation of a coating known as “tongue paste,” which harbors bacteria and causes bad breath.
2. Enhances sense of taste: Research shows that tongue scraping twice a day can improve your sense of taste, allowing your tongue to better differentiate between bitter, sour, salty, and sweet sensations.
3. Improves appearance of the tongue: Regular scraping prevents the accumulation of debris and keeps the tongue looking clean and healthy.
4. Improves overall health: By removing oral bacteria, tongue scraping helps prevent cavities, gum diseases, and other health conditions that can originate in the mouth.
5. Curbs bad breath: While tongue scraping cannot replace regular brushing, it can be more effective in eliminating odor-causing bacteria.
Incorporating tongue scraping into your oral hygiene routine can contribute to better overall oral health.
