One of the most important benefits of tongue scraping is that it helps remove bacteria from your tongue. Brushing and rinsing alone only remove the outer layer of bacteria, but the cells beneath it still thrive. In fact, a study found that tongue scrapers can remove up to 79% more bacteria than brushing alone!
Tongue Scraping Benefits
In theory, scraping your tongue could help maintain the right balance of “good” bacteria in your mouth. This good bacteria could produce more nitric oxide, which nourishes stem cells that help to repair and replace older damaged cells.
Well, according to a study published in the Journal of Periodontology, tongue scrapers are actually very effective at removing bacteria from the tongue. In fact, the study found that tongue scrapers were able to remove up to 79% of bacteria from the tongue surface.
You should scrape your tongue once a day, and most experts recommend that you do it after brushing either in the morning or evening.
Tongue cleaning can cause discomfort. Improper use of a tongue cleaner may induce the gag reflex and/or vomiting. Overuse of a tongue cleaner may also cause damage to the taste buds. Some people have inappropriately used the tongue cleaner to scrape or brush the lingual tonsils (tongue tonsils).
Can a tongue scraper damage your tongue? Just like with brushing your teeth or tongue with a toothbrush, if you apply too much pressure, it is possible to hurt your mouth. This can leave your gums and tongue bleeding from brushing too hard. Using the tongue scraper is the same case.
Tongue Scraping – Yes, it really IS necessary! Our office recommends the daily use of a Tongue Scraper or Tongue Cleaner! The use of a tongue scraper or tongue cleaner will keep the mouth clean and reduce odor. We have learned that bad breath, also known as halitosis, comes from bacteria in our mouthes.
Tongue scraping won't damage your taste buds. In fact, it might actually help them to work even better than before (because germs won't be covering them.)
White tongue is the result of an overgrowth and swelling of the fingerlike projections (papillae) on the surface of your tongue. The appearance of a white coating is caused by debris, bacteria and dead cells getting lodged between the enlarged and sometimes inflamed papillae.
Cosmetic dentist Dr. Marc Lowenberg of Lowenberg, Lituchy and Kantor in New York City also says that tongue scraping is an important step in a complete oral hygiene routine. “It can't replace brushing, but should be done in addition to brushing, flossing and rinsing,” he says.
Not only are metal tongue scrapers more effective, but they also outcompete plastic ones that need to be replaced more often, are prone to breaking, and can become visibly dirty. Not to mention, they're more sustainable, too!
According to a systematic review on effective tongue coating management methods, tongue scrapers are more effective at reducing bad breath than toothbrushes [16].
The white coating is caused by debris, dead cells or bacteria which get stuck on the bumps of your tongue and results in the white coloring. Your tongue is the perfect home for anaerobes. These bacteria live in areas with very little to no oxygen, including the bowel.
This sticky, disgusting layer of film is called oral thrush, and it's normal to want to rid your mouth of the foul substance as quickly as possible! Read on to learn more from your dentist about what causes oral thrush, along with some measures you can take to address it and maintain good oral health.
The research found that after four weeks, participants did have improvements in constipation and overall oral health. DiFoggio says tongue scraping can contribute to overall health by removing toxins from entering the body due to the removal of bacteria from the tongue.
Indeed, studies suggest that tongue scraping can remove bacteria and improve bad breath more than brushing. Tongue scraping devices made from plastic, copper or stainless steel are available at most drug stores and generally cost under $10.
After cleaning your tongue, whether with a toothbrush or scraper, use a mouth rinse. Then, rinse the scraper or toothbrush with water.
The Takeaway. A stainless steel or copper tongue scraper should be part of your twice-daily dental hygiene practice. It will safely and effectively clean your tongue — helping to reduce bad breath, remove bacteria, improve your taste and jump start digestion.
Baking soda scrub
Adding food-grade baking soda to a toothbrush and scrubbing the tongue, teeth, and gums may help reduce the bacteria that cause a white tongue. One study found that a baking soda oral rinse can reduce harmful bacteria that commonly cause infections in the mouth, such as Streptococcus.
Most of the time it's harmless and can be reversed. Sometimes, it can be a sign of illness. From a dry, sticky coating to small round lesions, discolored taste buds to pockets of pus, there are many reasons why the tongue can appear white.
It usually happens when dead skin cells become trapped in your papillae (tiny, hair-like projections on your tongue). The dead skin cells accumulate on your papillae and become stained by things like food and tobacco.
If tongue scraping causes pain or bleeding, the person should stop using the scraper. They might be using it with too much force, or there may be uneven edges on the scraper that could be injuring the tongue. It is important to avoid placing the scraper too far back on the tongue, as this can activate the gag reflex.