Smile with Confidence: A Comprehensive Guide to Dental Health and Care

tongue health

Common Dental Questions, dental care questions and answers, dental health tips, cosmetic and restorative dentistry, dental technology, ask a dentist about tongue health

How to Clean The Tongue

To keep your mouth healthy and avoid committing the dreaded social blunder of having halitosis, otherwise known as “bad breath”, dentists recommend that you do the following:

  • Brush your teeth twice daily
  • Floss at least once per day
  • Use a tongue brush or scraper daily.

So, what the heck is a tongue scraper, and, furthermore – why did my dentist never recommend doing this?

Well, the concept has been around for a long time; in fact, tongue cleaning was performed by the Romans, and was recorded in Europe back in the 18th and 19th centuries.

What Is A Tongue Cleaner?

A tongue cleaner? Say what?! Whoever heard of such a thing? Well, not many people. In fact, studies show that less than 20 percent of Americans have ever used a tongue cleaner. Even most people who pride themselves on their excellent oral hygiene practices don’t routinely use a tongue cleaner, and many never have. But tongue cleaners are wonderful and inexpensive little devices that can do wonders for the health of your mouth, especially if you’re someone who faces challenges with your teeth or even with chronic bad breathe. But what is a tongue cleaner? Why should you use one? Will it really make that big a difference to your teeth, gums, or breathe? The answer to this question? Absolutely! And the great news is that it takes just a minute or two a day. Here’s more information from general dentists about tongue cleaners and, most importantly, why you should add a tongue cleaner to your daily oral hygiene regimen.