Cleaning the tongue: Benefits of tongue cleaners for oral health

1. Daily brushing and flossing and using mouthwash is not always enough to keep the breath fresh and healthy. A tongue cleaner in the form of a toothbrush, a tongue scraper or a spoon is also an essential oral care product. In addition, the use of a tongue cleaner provides an improved sense of taste and better immunity. In addition to the many benefits, there are also some disadvantages and tips associated with using tongue cleaners. Finally, it is important to properly clean the tongue to avoid problems with the tongue.

Benefits of tongue cleaner

1. Quitting smoking is also necessary to get fresh breath / Source: Geralt, Pixabay Fresh breathing Bad breath (halitosis) has various causes, such as nutrition, poor oral hygiene, dry mouth (xerostomia), gum disease and other conditions. Good dental hygiene and oral care are therefore necessary, as are drinking plenty of water and giving up smoking. A foul breath odor is created after eating a meal when bacteria from the food particles left on the tongue release foul-smelling sulfur compounds. Eating smelly foods such as onion and garlic, in particular, contributes to bad-smelling breath. Cleaning the tongue hairs reduces bad breath by about 75 percent compared to using a regular toothbrush, which removes about 45 percent of the dirty particles. It is therefore recommended to use a mouthwash after brushing, flossing and rinsing

Improved taste sensation

1. A lesser known benefit of cleaning the tongue is that it aids in better tasting food. Dead cells, fungi, toxins (poisons) and food debris begin to cover the tongue after eating. This may result in blocked (blocked) taste buds causing the person to have a metallic taste in the mouth and other taste disorders

Disadvantages and tips for cleaning tongue

1. When a person uses a tongue cleaner, they may gag or even vomit as a result of the gag reflex (vomiting reflex). Furthermore, it is recommended to use a safe tongue cleaner so as not to damage taste buds on the tongue surface. Applying too much pressure when cleaning the tongue is also not recommended as this will cause tongue bleeding more quickly. Also, just before use, the person should inspect the tongue scraper for uneven or rough edges, as these may lead to cuts to the tongue. Finally, it is necessary to keep the tongue cleaner clean because otherwise they will get a tongue infection

Types of tongue cleaners

1. Toothbrush Cleaning the tongue with a regular toothbrush

Tongue scraping / cleaning method

1. Cleaning the tongue should be done on a regular basis, preferably in the morning. When the person first starts cleaning the tongue, they should be extra careful. The tongue still has to get used to this action. The person sticks out the tongue and places the toothbrush, tongue scraper, or spoon as far back as possible, on the tongue. Then, the person scrapes gently from the back of the tongue to the front of the tongue until he has already cleaned some of the tongue surface. Then he rinses off the tongue cleaner and starts again until he has brushed the entire tongue surface. The person may scrape the tongue, but do so carefully to avoid tongue bleeding and tongue infections. The tongue may be cleaned until the tongue surface is smooth to the touch, but then the person must stop to avoid damage to the tongue. The person washes and rinses the tongue cleaner thoroughly with warm water after each use.

2. Cleaning the tongue should be done on a regular basis, preferably in the morning. When the person first starts cleaning the tongue, they should be extra careful. The tongue still has to get used to this action. The person sticks out the tongue and places the toothbrush, tongue scraper, or spoon on the tongue as far back as possible. Then, the person scrapes gently from the back of the tongue to the front of the tongue until he has already cleaned some of the tongue surface. Then he rinses off the tongue cleaner and starts again until he has brushed the entire tongue surface. The person may scrape the tongue, but do so carefully to avoid tongue bleeding and tongue infections. The tongue may be cleaned until the tongue is plugged