Did you realise your tongue can have greater microorganisms and bacteria than other parts of your mouth? Even if you’re an oral hygiene all-superstar who brushes your teeth two times a day, flosses often and dutifully visits your dentist every six months, you could yet be overlooking one step that would help keep your mouth fresh and healthy and that is tongue scraping. It is an integral part of our oral hygiene that should be followed. To know more about why tongue scraping is necessary, we reached out to Dr Neha Chhabra, Co-Founder & Dental Expert at Bentodent. Scroll down to know its benefits and how to do tongue scraping the right way.
“Your tongue not only helps in functions like chewing, swallowing, and enhancing flavours of the meals but it also has a significant role to play in overall wellbeing. Tongue colour changes now and then and are the first signs that something is amiss in our overall health. So, cleansing your tongue is critical to preserve the bad bacteria, meal debris and dead cells that can collect there, from causing hassle.”
What is Tongue Scraping?
Tongue scraping, or jihwa prakshalana, is a conventional part of Ayurvedic self-care and a top-notch way to test in together with your frame every morning. Tongue scraping is the process of walking an easy device throughout your tongue to take away bacteria, meal debris, and other debris from the floor. Our Ancestors did it, The Romans did it. The Victorians did it. Even George Washington, well-known for his dental troubles, did it.
Also Read: Does Tongue-Scraping Prevent Bad Breath
A few specialists also suggest that a committed scraping device is better at removing plaque and microorganisms from the tongue’s surface.
Why consider Tongue Scraping?
Although it cannot be the pinnacle of mind, taking care of your tongue is crucial for common oral fitness. Some of the benefits of tongue scraping are:
- Improved flavour: When you scrap the floor of your tongue, it’s nearly as if you’re beginning with an entirely fresh palette. You might note more potent flavour profiles the following time you whip up something candy or highly spiced!
- Fresher breath: Tons of odour-causing microorganisms live on your tongue. It’s now not simply your teeth and gums you want to take note of to avoid terrible breath — your tongue is a big part of it!
- Improved overall health: Good oral hygiene is essential for better holistic health. Scraping your tongue can get rid of dangerous microorganisms that inflame your gums as well as prevent cavities. When these quality practices for proper oral hygiene are ignored, they could result in different troubles like mouth ulcers & sores, mouth cancers and more.
How to Perform Tongue Scraping?
After brushing and flossing, open the mouth wide and area the tongue scraper on the deepest or back part of the tongue.
Apply gentle stress and pull the scraper forward in the direction of the top of the tongue. Make sure to not put too much pressure and ensure the scraper doesn't harm else you might bleed your tongue!
- Rinse your tongue scraper with lukewarm water
- Gently do scraping twice or thrice
- Rinse your mouth properly
- Wash your tongue scraper with lukewarm water
- Store the tongue scraper in a clean, dry place among uses.
Once you start a regular exercise of tongue scraping, you will be hooked. After some weeks, you may observe a widespread distinction. Your mouth will feel alive and your flavour buds switched on too.