Improve Your Health with Just 5 Minutes of Tongue Cleaner Daily

Berfin Ceren Meray
Onedio Member
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Using a tongue cleaner is essential for removing bacteria, dead cells, and food residues from the surface of your tongue. While some studies suggest that this daily ritual can reduce bad bacteria levels and even eliminate bad breath, other research indicates that some claimed benefits may be overstated. Discover how incorporating a tongue cleaner into your daily routine for just 5 minutes can lead to significant improvements in your overall health!

The human tongue is covered with lingual papillae that trap bacteria and food particles, leading to bad breath and oral diseases.

However, the oral cavity hosts more than 700 types of bacteria, which are crucial for digestion and oral hygiene but can also cause problems like gum disease and bad breath if imbalanced. Regular brushing along with tongue scraping helps manage this balance by removing excess bacteria and food residues. Preserving a healthy oral microbiome is essential for overall health, including heart health.

The benefits of tongue cleaning include:

  • Reducing bad breath

  • Improving the appearance of the tongue

  • Enhancing a healthy oral microbiome

  • Improved oral health

  • Enhanced sense of taste

Research on the effectiveness of tongue cleaning in reducing bad breath and tongue coating has yielded mixed results.

A study in 2010 showed positive outcomes, while a 2019 study found little evidence supporting its effectiveness. However, a 2019 study demonstrated that tongue cleaning reduced levels of Streptococcus mutans, a bacteria associated with tooth decay. Conversely, a 2017 study showed no significant impact on bacteria levels or odor in individuals with periodontitis. More research is needed to clarify the role of tongue scraping in oral hygiene.

Tongue cleaning can easily be added to your regular oral care routine.

After brushing your teeth, use a specialized tongue scraper tool to gently scrape from the back to the front of your tongue. Repeat this two or three times, rinsing the tongue scraper after each stroke. Apply gentle pressure while cleaning your tongue, enough to remove the slimy sticky layer but not enough to cause any harm.

You can purchase a tongue cleaner online or from your local pharmacy at an affordable price.

You can opt for disposable plastic ones that can be used daily for a few months or reusable metal ones that can be easily cleaned and used indefinitely. While more expensive, most experts recommend using metal tongue scrapers over plastic ones as they are most effective in removing residues and bacteria from the tongue. This also means less plastic pollution, as a piece of metal will float in the ocean for centuries compared to plastic.