Try This Quick Tip for Better Oral Health

Brushing, flossing and rinsing should already be a regular part of your daily oral regime, but if you’re not also scraping then you could be missing a trick. Tongue scraping is an ancient ritual that’s been practised for over 2000 but it’s only just making its way into modern dental routines.

The primary reason we should all add a tongue scraper to our hygiene kit is to remove the build of up bacteria and debris that gathers in the mouth daily. The bacteria, if left unchecked, can quickly multiply and cause gum disease, dental decay and cavities. According to one study, researchers found that using a tongue scraper twice a day for a week reduced the overall presence of mutans streptococci and lactobacilli bacteria in the mouth, two strains that contribute to decay. It’s not just your teeth and gums that will benefits, links between certain bacteria, decay and gum disease have been proven with heart infections, poor diabetic control and even the health of growing babies in pregnant women.

Scraping your tongue regularly will also help keep bad breath at bay as you’re removing the bacteria and debris that builds up in crypts on the tongue’s surface. As well as contributing to better overall health, a cleaner, clearer tongue should also improve the taste of food.

As for what you should be scraping your tongue with, there are myriad options available but a clean teaspoon or your toothbrush will also suffice and doing it once a day after brushing is fine. Starting at the back, simply apply gentle pressure across your tongue and continue until the whole surface is done. The more you do it, the less likely you are to gag and the further back on your tongue you can go. If you already have a white coating on your tongue, then aim for twice daily to remove it and prevent the build up from returning.