Andrea Rafold 
Cleaning your teeth and flossing are necessary steps toward optimal oral health, but tongue scraping offers another effective solution that can take your hygiene regime one step further.
Tongue scraping tools made from plastic or metal can remove bacteria and food debris from the tongue’s surface, helping reduce bad breath while freshening up your mouth and improving taste buds.
Brushing
Be sure to use a tongue scraper in addition to brushing and flossing in order to rid yourself of bacteria that causes gum disease and tooth decay. Tongue scraping involves using a metal tool rake the surface of your tongue in order to remove odor-causing bacteria, food debris, dead cells and any dead spots left by tongue brushing; this ancient practice dates back thousands of years! You can do it as either an alternative or complement to regular dental hygiene practices such as toothbrushing.
Research shows that adding tongue scraping to your oral hygiene routine can reduce bacterial plaque on the surface of the mouth, improve taste sensation and decrease bad breath (known as halitosis). While tongue scraping can be helpful, it should not replace other forms of oral care like brushing. Brushing twice daily and flossing once weekly are critical steps towards protecting teeth against decay, gum disease and bad breath.
Flossing
Tongue scraping can help reduce bacteria buildup and freshen breath for improved oral hygiene.
Food particles left from eating can adhere to your teeth and tongue, leading to bad breath and providing a breeding ground for bacteria. Through tongue scraping, you can eliminate this film of bacteria as well as eliminate odor-causing sulfur compounds that contribute to bad breath.
A tongue scraper is an inexpensive, convenient addition to your dental hygiene regimen that can easily fit into a daily regimen. They can be found at many drugstores or even grocery store aisles alongside toothbrushes.
Studies suggest that adding tongue scraping to your daily habits can significantly enhance both the look and sensation of your mouth. Consistency is key in order to reduce bacteria buildup that could potentially lead to gum disease and bad breath; for this reason, tongue scraping should take place at least twice daily and after each meal or snack.
Tongue Scraping
Tongue scraping differs from brushing and flossing by employing a special tool designed to clean the surface of the tongue. Tongue scraping removes bacteria, food debris and sulfur compounds that cannot be reached with toothbrushes alone – helping reduce sulfur compounds responsible for bad odor. In addition, according to one study in BMC Oral Health it has also been proven effective at decreasing your risk of gum disease, cavities or other oral infections.
Regular tongue cleaning can enhance your sense of taste. This is particularly useful if you suffer from an overgrowth of yeast that leads to thrush. Tongue scrapers are available at most stores selling oral hygiene instruments or online and feature small, slightly rounded surfaces similar to an inverted spoon shape.
Ayurvedic practitioners believe that your tongue’s coating serves as a map of your internal organs. Coated areas on certain sections indicate toxins present in associated organs; tongue scraping can remove these toxins while simultaneously strengthening immunity and decreasing risk for cardiovascular disease.
Mouthwash
Your mouth can become an incubator of bad-breath-causing bacteria. Therefore, it’s important to take steps to eliminate these harmful elements before they cause gum disease, tooth decay or cavities – one effective strategy is scraping your tongue twice daily for increased bacteria removal and reduced bad breath odor.
Tongue scraping is a quick and straightforward practice you should incorporate into your daily regimen, right after brushing and flossing. Tongue scrapers are readily available at pharmacies or health food stores, allowing for effortless tongue care.
According to a study published in BMC Oral Health, scientists discovered that tongue cleaning could significantly decrease bacterial cells on its surface. While these results appear promising, some caution must be exercised.
