Tongue Cleaner: Do You Know What It Is And How To Use It?
From childhood, adults try to convey to us the importance of maintaining proper oral hygiene. Our smiles and our breath say a lot about us. However, when it comes to oral health, the tongue cleaner is often overlooked by many.
As we all know, to have a really clean mouth and teeth, it is not enough to brush them twice a day. In fact, the dentist is very insistent on creating this habit in us in the right way: it is important to brush our teeth correctly after every meal.
In addition, they also recommend that we use, at least once a day, mouthwash and dental floss. All these measures aim at the same thing: to eliminate all food and bacteria debris from the teeth and oral mucous membranes.
When we are not able to do this cleaning correctly, these residues accumulate. This usually happens in our language. So in this article we’ll explain what a tongue cleaner is and why it’s so important to include it in your hygiene routine.
What is a tongue cleaner?
The tongue cleaner is a small tool also called a tongue scraper. Although there are different types, it usually has a U-shape. It is used to remove all food debris and bacteria that may remain on the surface of the tongue after brushing the teeth.
This is very important because, although many people do not know it, the bacteria responsible for the problem of halitosis can also reside in our language. Halitosis, or bad breath, is the collection of unpleasant odors that occur in the mouth.
Most cases of halitosis arise precisely because we are not able to properly clean the mouth. When this happens, leftover food, bacteria and saliva build up. A thin, transparent film called plaque is formed.
The action of these bacteria is responsible for the unpleasant odor that is created. Therefore, it is very important to pay attention to all corners of the mouth, including the tongue. Thus, we can completely clean all areas.
How effective is the tongue cleaner?
Even if you practice proper hygiene and brush your tongue with a regular toothbrush, this may not be enough. According to dentists, a tongue cleaner is almost 30% more effective in removing all bacteria from the tongue.
In addition, it allows reaching areas farther away from the tongue than the brush, and less aggressively. Likewise, it is a very cheap and easy tool to obtain in any pharmacy and even in some supermarkets.
Maintaining a thorough oral hygiene routine can help not only prevent bad breath, but also help prevent many diseases and infections, such as periodontal disease.
How Should You Use Tongue Cleaner?
To use a tongue cleaner, it is best to include it in your normal hygiene routine after brushing your teeth. You can do this at any time of day, but it’s a little more important that you use it in the morning, as at night many germs accumulate in our mouths.
The ideal is to do this in front of a mirror so that you will be able to see your tongue and try to reach all the parts. Try to cover the entire surface of the tongue with the cleanser, starting with the deepest part.
It is essential that you move outward to try to drag all the bacteria to the tip of the tongue. Repeat the movement three or four times. Don’t forget to rinse and store the cleaner properly.
Conclusion
A tongue cleaner is a small, inexpensive tool that helps us remove all debris and bacteria from the tongue to prevent bad breath and possible infections or illnesses.
Ideally, you should visit a dentist frequently for deep oral check- ups and cleanings. Adopting all these tips into your regular routine will help you have a healthier mouth.
