972-908-0401
  • About Us
  • Careers
  • Blog
  • Press
  • Instagram
  • tiktok
Jefferson Dental & Orthodontics
  • Find an Office
  • Savings Plan
  • Payment Options
    • Private InsuranceWe accept most dental insurance plans.
    • Dental Savings PlanOur Dental Savings Plan saves patients who don’t have insurance up to 50% off services.
    • Government PlansWe accept many child and adult Medicaid, Chip and Medicare plans.
    • Dental Payment PlansWe offer flexible financing programs with no interest (if eligible), giving you the freedom to prioritize your dental care needs.
  • Services
    • General Services
      • Preventative Dental Services
      • Teeth Cleaning
      • Dental Crowns
      • Dental Fillings
      • Dental Bridges
      • Emergency Dental Care
      • Current Specials and Discounts
    • Specialty Services
      • Invisalign Clear Aligners
      • Dental Laser Therapy
      • Pediatric Dentistry – Dentists for Children
      • Braces and Orthodontics
      • Gum Disease Treatment
      • Emergency Tooth Extraction
      • Endodontist Root Canal Treatment
      • Affordable Dentures
      • 3D Dental Scan & AI Technology
      • Current Specials and Discounts
    • Cosmetic Dentistry
      • Affordable Dental Implants
      • Teeth Whitening
      • Affordable Dental Veneers
      • Current Specials and Discounts
  • About Us
    • Careers
      • Dentists
      • Dental Hygienists
      • Office Team Members
      • Support Center
    • Blog
    • Press
HomeBlogWhy You Need to Add a Tongue Scraper to Your Oral Care

Why You Need to Add a Tongue Scraper to Your Oral Care

On March 21, 2019 Written and Reviewed by JDC Content Committee


Article at a Glance

  • Cleaning your tongue is an important step to battling bad breath and removing unwanted bacteria from your mouth.
  • More than half of halitosis, or bad breath, is caused by bacteria build-up on the tongue.
  • There are many tools available for tongue scraping, so you can choose the one that works best for you and your lifestyle.

The Importance of Cleaning Your Tongue

When brushing your teeth, you’re trying to rid your mouth of bacteria and debris. The surface of your tongue also comes into contact with the same substances when you eat and drink, so it makes sense to rid your tongue of bacteria and debris as well. In fact, while the tip of your tongue is essentially self-cleaning, the middle and back of your tongue collect more bacteria than any other part of your mouth. This build-up of bacteria is a primary cause of bad breath and can contribute to tooth decay. You may even find that your sense of taste improves too after cleaning your tongue!

What is the Best Way to Clean Your Tongue?

Tongue scraping is the most common way to clean your tongue. You can purchase a device called a tongue scraper, or you can select a toothbrush with a built-in tongue scraping feature. If you have a strong gag reflex, you may want to use a tongue scraper instead of a toothbrush to reduce gagging as it takes up less vertical space in your mouth. There are many tongue scraping options available, so you may want to try them all to determine which you prefer or speak with your dentist about their recommendations.

How to Use a Tongue Scraper

Once you have your tongue scraper in hand, you’ll want to know how to scrape your tongue properly. Extend your tongue all the way so you can clean as much of the surface as possible without activating your gag reflex. Gently scrape your tongue from the back to the front. Be sure to rinse residue from the tool as it builds up and continue until you’ve covered your entire tongue and all debris is removed. When you’re done, rinse your mouth out to clear any remaining bacteria.

There are a few things to remember when you’re working on keeping your tongue clean. You should brush your teeth at least twice a day, so why not incorporate tongue scraping to your teeth brushing routine? To have the best impact, you may want to scrape your tongue after eating or drinking to prevent bacteria from building up and causing bad breath.

Does Tongue Scraping Work?

Some of the benefits of tongue scraping are easy to see while others take a bit more time to recognize.

  • By looking at your tongue in a mirror, you can see the bacteria and residue (usually a whitish coating) prior to tongue scraping and then your clean tongue afterward.
  • Tongue scraping removes two types of bacteria – mutans streptococci and lactobacilli – known to cause bad breath and dental decay.
  • As mentioned above, tongue scraping reduces bad breath because your tongue is the most likely culprit when it comes to halitosis.
  • Your sense of taste will most likely improve when you regularly tend to your tongue. A clean tongue is more capable of differentiating between taste sensations and you may pick up on more subtle undertones in food and drink.

Tongue Scraping is Part of a Good Oral Health Routine

Adding tongue scraping to your daily routine is a good way to eliminate the build-up of bacteria in your mouth. You still need to keep up with brushing, flossing, and regular appointments with your dentist.

If it’s been a while since you’ve had a check-up and teeth cleaning or if you’d like to discuss tongue scraping with your dental professionals, make an appointment at the Jefferson Dental Care Clinic nearest you.

 

 

Our Jefferson Dental Content Committee supports our team by educational and informational articles related to what we do, oral care tips, and current events in our communities.

This blog provides general information and discussions about oral health and related subjects. The information and other content provided in this blog, website or in any linked materials are not intended and should not be considered, or used as a substitute for, dental advice, diagnosis or treatment. This blog does not constitute the practice of any medical, dental or other professional health care advice, diagnosis or treatment. We cannot diagnose conditions, provide second opinions or make specific treatment recommendations through this blog or website.

If you or any other person has an oral health concern, you should consult with your dentist or seek other professional dental treatment immediately. Never disregard professional medical/dental advice or delay in seeking it because of something that you have read on this blog, website or in any linked materials. If you are experiencing a dental emergency, please visit your local Jefferson Dental & Orthodontics office — we accept walk-ins.

Related Stories

How to Cure Bad Breath

How to Cure Bad Breath Fast

On September 24, 2019

Read More
attractive-african-american-sporty-young-woman-drinking-bottle-of-water-on-red-wall-background

Does Dehydration Negatively Impact Your Oral Health

On July 31, 2019

Read More
How to get rid of bad breath, treat halitosis

4 Ways to Treat Bad Breath

On June 17, 2016

Read More
© 2017 - Jefferson Dental & Orthodontics
  • Careers
  • Notice of Data Event
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Nondiscriminatory Policy
c3181404bc