Brushing teeth is a daily routine for the majority of people. However, for many, cleaning the tongue is not part of this morning or evening ritual. The positive effects of tongue cleaning are discussed again and again. We reveal whether tongue scrapers are really useful and what should be considered when using them.
Tongue often breeding ground for bacteria
In many eastern countries, cleaning the tongue as an Ayurvedic cleansing ritual has been part of everyday oral care for several thousand years. However, tongue cleaning is also becoming increasingly popular in Western culture. Tongue cleaning is said to improve oral hygiene.
Our oral cavity is teeming with bacteria. In the plaque of the gum pockets alone, 800 different species have been identified. These microorganisms prefer to settle where the toothbrush cannot reach them and where there is as little oxygen as possible. Ideal places are therefore interdental spaces, gingival pockets and dentures.
Only recently has the tongue also received attention in this regard. Bacteria can easily accumulate on it and cause bad breath through their sulfur production. This is because bad breath is sulfur fumes. This occurs when bacteria decompose food residues or exfoliated cells on the tongue. The most common cause of bad breath is therefore plaque on the tongue. Tongue scrapers help to remove these coatings and thus reduce bad breath.
However, whether cleaning also leads to a reduction in the bacteria that settle on the tongue is scientifically disputed. A connection between tongue coatings and an increased risk of developing caries or periodontitis has also not yet been proven by studies.
Tongue diagnosis: What do spots, coatings and Co. mean?
Tongue cleaner with effective effect
In India, people use silver tongue scrapers for daily tongue cleaning. Meanwhile, special tongue scrapers and tongue brushes are also available in our country. Made of plastic or metal, they can be purchased at a low price in the pharmacy or drugstore. Sometimes you can also find tongue scrapers made of copper, which are supposed to have an additional antibacterial effect.
In principle, other aids such as the back of a toothbrush or a teaspoon can also be used to clean the tongue. However, these are often larger or less flat than a tongue scraper and can thus trigger a gag reflex more easily. Care should also be taken when using a spoon to ensure that it does not have sharp edges.
Tongue scraper: proper use
The handling of a tongue scraper is simple:
- Place the tongue scraper at the back of the tongue and pull it forward. The back third of the tongue is most affected by plaque.
- Repeat the procedure until no more residue adheres to the tongue scraper.
- The tongue scraper can be dipped in mouthwash supportive.
- Tongue cleaning should be integrated as a permanent part of the toothbrushing routine.
Bad breath: what to do?
Home remedies for tongue cleaning
In addition to using a tongue scraper, a few home remedies can help clean the tongue. For example, some teas, such as sage or black tea, have a disinfectant effect. Antibacterial mouthwashes have a similar effect.
Chewing hard foods, such as carrots or apples, can also help rid the tongue of plaque. As a general rule, drinking plenty of fluids rinses the mouth well and thus reduces the formation of tongue coatings. Chewing gum is also helpful here, as it stimulates the flow of saliva.
Conclusion: tongue cleaning overall useful
Whether the number of bacteria in the mouth is lowered by tongue cleaning is not currently considered proven. However, cleaning the tongue as part of daily dental care can help remove plaque more effectively. As a result, bacteria in the mouth receive less food and produce fewer sulfur compounds, which in turn prevents bad breath. Tongue scrapers can therefore be a useful addition to oral hygiene to prevent or reduce bad breath. Cleaning is also thought to improve the sensitivity of taste receptors on the tongue.
