Your good oral health goes beyond a sparkling smile. Your oral microbiome (which is the diverse community of microorganisms living in your mouth) plays an important role in your overall well-being. Imbalances in the oral bacteria can contribute to both oral and systemic diseases. The team at Al Dana Palm Dentist would like to remind you that it is not just about teeth and gums – the health of our mouth could impact our general health.
It is well known that maintaining a good daily oral hygiene routine is the best solution for avoiding any dental problem. The basic pillars of good dental hygiene remain the same:
Teeth Brushing: Use quality toothpaste with good ingredients that will help re-mineralize your teeth and brush your teeth at least 2 times a day.
Teeth Flossing: Clean between your teeth with a floss to remove plaque, prevent decay and gum disease. Ask us how to do it if you don’t manage this well.
Tongue Scraping: Regularly clean the surface of your tongue to remove the accumulated coat.
Dietary Choices: Your food must include fruits, vegetables and probiotics that will support a diverse and healthy oral microbiome.
What Is Tongue Scraping?
Debris, bacteria, and dead cells can build up on your tongue over time. This can lead to bad breath and have a negative impact on your overall oral health. Tongue scraping is the process of running a tool across your tongue to remove those particles from the surface.
You can get a similar effect if you simply brush your tongue but researchers found that tongue scrapers removed 30 percent more volatile sulfur compounds on the tongue than a soft-bristled toothbrush.
How to Scrape (Clean) Your Tongue Here is how you can try easy tongue scraping at home:
First, you will need a tongue cleaner (made from plastic, copper or stainless steel).
Stand in front of a mirror, open your mouth, and stick out your tongue.
Gently start to scrape from the very back of the tongue & run the scraper all the way to the front 2 or 3 times (it should not hurt nor cut your tongue). Repeat until you’ve scraped the entire surface of your tongue. One to two scrapes across the same area is usually enough
Rinse the scraper under running water between scrapes and once finished.
Rinse the mouth with a bit of water once you’re done.
The entire process usually takes less than two minutes. Repeat as needed throughout the day.
You can do this process every day in the morning or at night after brushing your teeth. Just do not forget to clean your tongue cleaner regularly. Take a lemon wedge and clean your tongue cleaner carefully at least once a week.
Tongue Scraping Benefits:
Scraping your tongue could help maintain the right balance of “good” bacteria in your mouth. This good bacteria could produce more nitric oxide, which nourishes stem cells that help to repair and replace older damaged cells.
Though studies are limited, many scientists agree that regular tongue scraping improves bad breath, enhance taste, and lessen cavities. Researchers found that scraping was more effective than brushing at removing odor-causing bacteria.
It may be especially good for a “coated tongue,” which means a buildup of bacteria and dead cells that could result from things like:
Dry mouth
Inconsistent brushing
Yeast infections
Gut dysbiosis
Smoking
Medication use
