Choosing the Right Tongue Cleaner

When most people think about their oral health, they likely imagine the health of their teeth and gums but not the tongue, despite the many important functions it serves for a person’s everyday life—from helping them speak, to cleaning the mouth, to assisting with the processes of both eating and digestion.

As with the teeth and the rest of the human body, the tongue requires regular cleanings. Deciding on the right tongue cleaner, though it may surprise many, is just as important as choosing the right toothbrush, so here is how to find the right tongue cleaning tool for you.

Why Tongue Scrapers?

For most, the main culprit behind the necessity of tongue scrapers is halitosis (bad breath), which can result from poor oral hygiene, gum disease, eating foods like garlic or onions, tobacco use, and certain medical disorders, such as postnasal drip and sinusitis. In many of these instances, the tongue develops a whitish coat that results from an overgrowth of papillae on the surface of the tongue from bacteria. Tongue scrapers are one method for alleviating any coating that starts lining on the tongue.

Tongue Cleaning Tools

Mouths—bacteria breeding grounds that they are—can see millions of bacteria develop on the tongue’s surface, so it's essential that individuals understand how they can properly clean them. There are typically three kinds of cleaning tools that are used for the tongue: scrapers, regular toothbrushes, or specially made tongue brushes. Scrapers can be metal or plastic while tongue brushes have bristles like those of toothbrushes, but tongue brushes are made specifically to reach the tongue’s crevices.

Using Tongue Scrapers

Whether using a metal or plastic scraper, begin by setting it on the back end of the tongue. Gently and slowly, pull the tongue scraper to the mouth’s front and then repeat this motion. It’s important that individuals rinse their scraper before they use it and afterward and that they scrape both of the tongue’s sides in addition to its surface.

Once the scraping process is completed, rinse the mouth out. Because tongue scrapers have various sizes and shapes, it’s best to pick one that best suits the shape of both the tongue and the mouth. For those who aren’t sure, your dentist may have some tips for selecting the best one for you.

For individuals who already brush their teeth twice per day and floss every day as well, as recommended by the American Dental Association, they likely understand the importance of maintaining strong oral health. However, as with most endeavors, there is always room for improvement, and regular tongue cleanings are perfect for this.

If you are unsure about the right tongue cleaning tools, ask your dentist. And, if you sign up for our New Hampshire discount dental plan , you can also save as much as 20 percent off that dental visit! For more information, click here.

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