Did you know your general health can be affected by how well you care for your mouth? It's true that if the state of your oral health is low, this can result in several chronic diseases, including:
- Diabetes
- Heart disease
- Strokes
But instead of instilling fear about the adverse effects of poor oral hygiene, let's concentrate on strategies to keep you happy and healthy. We can also describe one tool that Grounded Kiwi offers that can help transform oral health in 10 seconds or less a day!
Introducing: The Grounded Kiwi tongue scraper
I have used This simple yet effective tool for many years. It's the first thing I do upon waking, and I wouldn't go without it now that it's become ingrained in my discipline for better health.
What Is a Tongue Scraper?
A tongue scraper is a small tool made either out of metal or plastic that helps remove bacteria, food debris, and dead cells on the surface of the tongue. Not only does it help with bad breath but also minimises chances of getting tooth decay and gum diseases.
You should use them together with brushing and flossing— not as an alternative. However, it provides a quick method for eliminating extra unwanted particles from one's tongue.
7 Benefits of Using a Tongue Scraper
Tongue scraping has many benefits, especially when used together with regular teeth brushing.
The top seven advantages include:
1. Removes Bacteria
One significant benefit of tongue scraping is its ability to help eliminate bacteria on one's tongue. Brushing and rinsing alone will usually only get rid of the outer layer of bacteria while those hiding below continue to thrive. In fact, research found that usage of tongue scrapers resulted into removing 79% more bacteria compared to using brushes only!
Tounge scrapers are good at getting rid of streptococci and Lactobacilli, which cause halitosis and dental caries.
2. Better Sense Taste
Scientific studies from 2004 show that everyday use of tongue scrapers can improve your taste buds and make food taste like it shood! This lets us recognise bitter, salty, sweet, tan, and sour flavours.
3. Activates Organs
By using a tongue cleaner, you can activate your inner body organs. Yes, cleaning off your morning tongue toxins can help to kick-start your whole body for the day.
4. Remove Excess Debris
Sometimes you may notice that there is an excessive debris buildup on your tongue making it look coated and white. Scrape this off every day and never see that coating again.
5. Better Digestion
Mastication and digestion start in the mouth. Saliva enzymes break down food for easier digestion. This activates these enzymes to enhance digestion.
6. Eliminates Bad Breath
This is one of the key reasons why most people use a tongue scraper. You will no longer experience bad breath in the mornings once you remove bacteria causing bad breath! Just be aware that scraping once won't keep away bad breath throughout the day, so it's best to scrape twice daily.
7. Boosts Overall Health
Various types of bacteria reside on the surface of our tongues. Some are good, while others are harmful. Using a tongue cleaner will help eliminate detrimental kinds, thus enhancing your immune system. This often leads to better health outcomes and reduces the occurance of cavities, gum disease, etc.
How to Use a Tongue Scraper
Most tongue scrapers have a rounded shape and appear like an inverted spoon (you can even use a clean spoon as a tongue scraper if necessary). It is available in three types:
Plastic,
Copper, or
Stainless steel
In order to use your tongue scraper properly, follow these steps:
Open your mouth wide in front of the mirror and stick out your tongue.
Gently place the round end of the scraper at the backside of your tongue.
To start, go to the far back of the tongue. You may feel the gag reflex, so just start back as far as you can and learn where to start over time. Gradually, you can start further back when confidence grows.
Slowly pull it forward from where it was originally placed gently towards the tip of the tongue, but never push it forward and backward. Make just one pass with each scrape. After each scrape, cleanse your scraper with a washcloth or or tissue paper or rinse under running water
Usually, one or two scrapes in an area are enough.
The scrapper should be washed using soap and warm water then dried after which it is stored in a clean place.
It usually takes less than a minute for this entire process, making it possible to incorporate into any routine!
What Bad Breath Can Be a Symptom Of
For most people who utilise tounge scrapers, bad breath is their main concern. However, bad breath is not only caused by overeating onions and garlic. Among other things that make one's breath smell terrible are:
Bad oral hygiene generally,
Drinking coffee excessively,
Sugary diet,
Low carbohydrate or high protein diets
Alcohol drinking,
Tobacco smoking,
Poor digestion/acid reflux,
Some prescribed drugs,
Mouth dryness,
Postnasal drip,
Tonsil infections,
Liver/kidney problems;
Diabetes
It is clear that some causes of bad breath are temporary and will cease after a while (e.g., eating certain food). However, others are more serious. Make sure you see a doctor if you have an ongoing problem with your breath – even if you get one of these tongue scrapers – the smell could be indicative of something else wrong with your health.
Copper tongue scrapers are the best way to go. Copper helps keep your mouth clean since it possesses antimicrobial properties. Unlike plastic or stainless steel tools, copper does not allow microbes to accumulate on its surface; hence, it stays cleaner. Additionally, copper tongue scrapers are long-lasting and environment friendly as they don't wear off quickly. The use of copper in oral health aids in the healing of bad breath and other oral issues while also being eco-friendly, thus making it the most suitable way to maintain good oral hygiene.
Are There Any Negative Side Effects?
The practice of 'tongue scraping' is very safe, except be careful not to unintentionally slice the top of your tongue with the scraper. Always check that there are no rough or jagged parts on this implement before you start using it.
Also, avoid putting too much hard pressure. Be soft enough to cause no injury to your taste buds or any damage to your skin, and yet ensure that you can remove the excess debris from your tongue. Start slowly and gently than what is required until one gets a feel for practice.
Living healthy consists of many aspects, including oral health! You can enhance oral hygiene by regular brushing and using a tongue scraper daily.
FAQ's
How often should I scrape my tongue?
It's best done as part of daily oral care routines. This helps eliminate bacteria, thus contributing to overall oral health improvement.
How long may one see positive results after starting to scrape their tongues?
Results from regular tongue scraping can become noticeable within a few weeks.