A dentist breaks down the effectiveness of this oral health routine.
You’ll never have to wonder what’s actually legitor what to skipagain.
It has actually beenpracticed for centuries(and even millennia) around the world.
Photo:Getty Images
And its incredibly easy to do.
What is Tongue Scraping?
Tongue scraping is done with a tool to clean the tongue’s surface.
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Mine is made out of metal, but it can be made out of plastic as well.
It’s designed to remove bacteria and dead cells that accumulate in the tongue.
Improving oral hygiene is the primary reason behind tongue scraping Dr. Reja explains.
How Does Tongue Scraping Work?
Dr. Reja, by contrast, recommends tongue scraping after brushing your teeth.
Place the U curved part on the back of the tongue as far as possible.
Pull the tongue scraper gently forward over the surface of the tongue to the tongues tip.
Its best to do it over a sink so the waste can fall into the sink.
Rinse any debris in the tongue cleaner under running water.
Repeat the scraping action two to three times.
You should then rinse your mouth with water.
After rinsing the tongue scraper as well, let it air dry.
What Are the Benefits of Tongue Scraping?
Daily tongue scraping works very well for halitosis, or bad breath.
But it also comes with other potential benefitsthough some of those benefits are less evidence-based at this time.
“However, there haven’t been many scientific studies on this claim.
Is Tongue Scraping Safe?
Tongue scraping is overwhelmingly safe.
Still, there are some things to consider to confirm you dont hurt yourself.
It is important to be extremely gentle when scraping,” says Dr. Kahng.
“Never should there be any blood or damage to the tongue.
Its also best not to use a tongue scraper in combination with anantiseptic mouth rinse, she says.
Tongue Scraping Is Good for Bad Breath: True or False?
Overall, tongue scraping is highly effective for managing bad breath says Dr. Kahng.
Bacteria that causes bad breath tend to accumulate at the back of the tongue.
For this reason, its important to get those areas with your tongue scraper, too.
Exposure to food, drinks, and tobacco can also change the color and the smell of this coating.
According to Dr. Reya,various studieson tongue scraping indicate a significant reduction in malodor after regular tongue scraping.
All in all, healthcare experts are big proponents of tongue scraping for bad breathand beyond.
