The toothbrush and floss are often the stars of the show, but what do you know about their little sister, the tongue scraper? Tongue scrapers might not be as central to dental health as toothbrushes and floss are, but they can be a good supplement to your hygiene habits if you’re looking for a method to amp up your oral health.
Tongue scrapers work by eliminating the acids from your oral cavity. Left to sit, bacterial acids on your tongue could migrate to the chompers and gums, where they can do some severe weakening. Removing the acids on your tongue is like extra credit from Dr. James Feldman.
Tongue cleaners come in a few different varieties, the most popular being the tongue scraper. Its tough tip makes it easy to scrape acids off of your tongue. Tongue brushes are another type, and they are rising in popularity. Although you can also brush your tongue with your toothbrush, we wouldn’t suggest it since it’s not as impactful as brushing with a tongue scraper or tongue brush.
That brings us to an additional point. Tongue brushing is awesome extra credit, but it in no way replaces tooth brushing and flossing. The majority of dental disorders affect the pearly whites and gums, so removing bacteria there should be your priority. Removing bacteria from the tongue should come second to cleaning the chompers and gums.
To use a tongue scraper, place it at the back of your oral cavity and gently pull it forward. Clean the top, sides, and bottom of your tongue to thoroughly remove all bacteria. Clean the scraper before, while and after using it to ensure no leftover bacteria will be seated into your oral cavity again.
Would you like an in-person tutorial on using tongue scrapers? If so, please call 202-362-8412 now to pencil in your next visit in our Washington, DC, office. Dr. James Feldman and our Feldman Dentistry staff will teach you all you need to understand about tongue cleaning.