While most people focus on brushing and flossing their teeth, cleaning the tongue is equally important. The tongue can accumulate bacteria and food debris, which could contribute to bad breath and other oral health issues. Adding tongue cleaning to your daily oral care routine can help promote a healthier mouth.
But you might be wondering exactly what a tongue cleaner is and how to use it. Read on to learn more about it and the different tongue-cleaning tools you may use to ensure that your tongue is clean. This article will also give you the benefits of incorporating tongue cleaner into your daily routine.
What is a Tongue Cleaner?
A tongue cleaner is a tool used to clean your tongue for oral hygiene, especially the upper surface, and remove food debris, bacteria, and dead cells. Food particles often accumulate between your teeth and on the tongue, leading to bacterial growth and the production of foul-smelling waste products (volatile sulphur compounds), which can cause bad breath. Using a tongue cleaner can help remove these particles, keeping your mouth clean and promoting fresh breath.
Tongue cleaners are often made of different materials, some of which include;
Copper tongue cleaners: Known for their antibacterial properties and durability, they can last for a long time with proper care.
Stainless steel tongue cleaners: Due to their resistance to corrosion, they are known for their exceptional durability and are easy to clean and maintain, making them a hygienic choice.
Plastic tongue cleaners: They are cheap, handy, and come in different colours and designs, but they may not be as durable as the other options.
Silicone tongue cleaners: With their ergonomic design, silicone tongue cleaners are gentle on your tongue and help in hassle-free cleaning.
What Are The Common Tongue Cleaning Tools?
Various tongue cleaners are available on the market, including tongue scrapers and tongue brushes, which have unique features to meet different preferences and needs. Understanding the different types of tongue-cleaning tools can help you choose the best one for your oral hygiene routine. Here are some of the most common types:
Tongue Scraper
For most people, the preferred tool is a tongue scraper, an effective method for cleaning your tongue. Tongue scrapers come in different shapes and sizes and are made of metal or plastic. To use a tongue scraper, place the edge on the back of your tongue and gently pull the scraper forward. Many consider tongue scraping to be an effective tongue-cleaning method that removes odour-causing bacteria better than cleaning the tongue with a toothbrush.
Toothbrush
While toothbrushes are primarily designed for cleaning your teeth, they can also be used to clean your tongue. Many toothbrushes come with a built-in tongue cleaner on the back of the head, which can be used to remove bacteria from your tongue. Even though they help in removing surface debris, they might not be as effective as using a tongue scraper or tongue cleaner brush. Toothbrushes may not do as good a job at cleaning the tiny crevices on the surface of your tongue as a tongue scraper can.
Tongue Brush
A tongue brush is a special oral brush with bristles designed to clean out the tongue's small crevices. Tongue brushes penetrate the tiny fissures on the tongue and clean out harmful deposits. Tongue brushes look similar to toothbrushes but have a wide surface that brushes the surface of the tongue. This relatively recent invention is very effective at removing odour-causing bacteria when compared to a traditional tongue scraper. Today, you can even find combination products, which have a toothbrush on one side and a tongue brush on the other for easy access and use.
How to Use a Tongue Cleaner?
A tongue cleaner can be used to clean your tongue, either before or after you brush your teeth. Your tongue is sensitive, so it is essential to be gentle and not press the cleaner too forcefully into your tongue. If you are wondering how to use tongue cleaner, here are a few more general cleaning tips:
Rinse your tongue cleaner before and after using it to remove bacteria and food debris.
Start cleaning at the back of your tongue, then pull your way to the front of the tongue.
Do not just clean down the centre of your tongue. It is essential to scrape and clean the entire top and side surfaces as well.
If you use a tongue brush, move it the same way recommended for the tongue scraper, from the back of the tongue to the tongue's front, while caring for the sides and centre of your tongue. You may have to use this method a few times to clean your entire tongue adequately.
Rinse the tongue brush or tongue scraper off after using it to remove bacteria and any food debris from the areas of the tongue you cleaned.
Rinse your mouth after cleaning your tongue.
Benefits of Tongue Cleaning
Practising tongue cleaning can have significant benefits on your oral health. Whether you opt for a tongue cleaner, a scraper, or a brush, it can lead to improved oral health and overall well-being. Below are some tongue cleaner benefits;
Reduce oral bacteria: Tongue cleaning removes bacteria that cause bad breath and gum problems, promoting fresher breath and healthier gums.
Improved tongue appearance: Regular tongue cleaning removes the white coating that can otherwise buildup, leaving your tongue looking and feeling better.
Enhance the sense of taste: Daily tongue scraping may heighten your sense of taste by enabling better identification of flavours.
Combat bad breath: Removing odour-causing bacteria through tongue cleaning helps eliminate bad breath.
Promote overall oral health: By reducing bacteria buildup, tongue cleaning helps prevent cavities, gum disease, and other oral health issues.
You may use a small dab of toothpaste that offers complete mouth protection, like Colgate Total Advanced Health, with the tongue cleaner brush to remove odour-causing bacteria. It employs Dual-Zinc + Arginine technology that provides proactive protection to the whole mouth and helps prevent the most relevant oral diseases and conditions. After brushing the entire top surface of the tongue, you may also rinse your mouth with mouthwash or water.
