Oral hygiene
What is a tongue scraper and how useful is it to use?
A tongue scraper is said to help reduce bad breath
© AndreyPopov / Getty Images
The invention is not new, but tongue cleaners are used far less often in Europe than in Asia – where Ayurvedic oral hygiene has been practiced for thousands of years. But what is behind it?
A tongue scraper is a small instrument that is used to clean the tongue. The purpose of the application is to reduce the deposits on the tongue and thus improve oral hygiene. Because the fact is: Millions of tiny bacteria live on our tongues that decompose food residues and produce sulfur in the process – and you can smell that: Bad breath is the result of deposits on the tongue. If these are removed (or at least reduced) by the tongue cleaner, our breath should also smell better. But does that also work? And how do you use a tongue cleaner correctly?
Overview: These tongue scrapers are currently available
In Asia, such as India, many people use tongue scrapers made of metal (stainless steel, Silver or copper). They are easy to clean and therefore have a particularly long service life. In Europe, on the other hand, most drugstore chains have so far only found tongue cleaners plastic: They are significantly cheaper to buy, but also have a shorter shelf life – because they are not as easy to clean as toothbrushes.
Regardless of the material, all tongue scrapers have one thing in common: their shape, which adapts perfectly to the tongue’s anatomy. Whether curved or U-shaped – all models are narrow and flat so that you can remove the plaque (without triggering the gag reflex), especially in the rear area of the tongue. The fact is: fewer bacteria collect in the front area of the tongue, because they touch your palate when you speak and swallow and thus remain “cleaner”.
Application: Use the tongue scraper correctly
Ideally, apply the Tongue cleaner twice a day: once in the morning and once in the evening – always after brushing your teeth. Proceed as follows:
- Pull the cleaner from the back to the front – with light pressure – over your outstretched tongue.
- Wash off the collected deposit with the tongue scraper under running water.
- Repeat the whole process at least three to four times in a row until there is no more plaque on the tongue scraper.
- Then rinse your mouth thoroughly and let the (cleaned) tongue scraper air dry.
And another tip: Put a small amount of toothpaste with antimicrobial ingredients on it Tongue scraper (or on your tongue) before you start cleaning.
Conclusion: how useful is a tongue scraper?
So far there are no scientific studies that prove that a tongue scraper (regardless of whether it is made of metal or plastic) can really reduce the number of bacteria in the mouth. According to Product test However, the deposits on the tongue are noticeably reduced – according to a dentist who took a closer look at the cleaning effect. For this reason, buying a tongue cleaner can make sense to improve oral hygiene and avoid bad breath.
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