Benefits of Tongue Cleaners
Tongue brushes and tongue scrapers are made to penetrate tiny tongue fissures and clean out unhealthy deposits. The Cochrane Database Systemic Review once looked at two studies on tongue hygiene, and found that patients who used a tongue cleaner experienced fresher breath than those who brushed their tongues with only a toothbrush.
What should you do? Clean your tongue before or after brushing your teeth – no particular order is better than another. Brushes such as Colgate® 360°® Floss Tip Toothbrush have the appropriate tongue brush on the reverse side, so it's easy to flip it over and clean your tongue without keeping more than one item in stock. You can also use a tongue scraper.
When doing so, make sure you rinse the tongue brush or scraper with clean water before and after using it. You'll want to dab a small amount of toothpaste on the tongue brush. Begin as far back along your tongue as you can without gagging and work your way forward, using gentle circular motions with a brush or smoothly dragging the scraper. Once you've cleaned your whole upper tongue surface, rinse your tongue. When brushing, avoid pressing so hard with a tongue brush or scraper that your tongue bleeds or becomes sore.
Cleaning your tongue may feel a little strange at first, but a healthy, pink, clean tongue is a great incentive to make it a habit. You can also feel more confident that your breath is fresh. Use a tongue cleaner for the best results.