In recent years, the use of the tongue scraper has increased in popularity, and with good reason. They’re very effective. Many people mistake the root of bad breath and assume it’s caused by eating the wrong foods, or that it lives in the teeth and gums. While this is true, the main source of bad breath comes from the back part of the tongue.
There are small buds on the back of the tongue known as papillae. If you look at the back of your tongue closely, you’ll see that it’s not at all flat. Inside these grooves live small bacteria, and these act as the main cause of bad breath as we know it. Part of the reason for this is due to the lack of oxygen these bacteria receive since they’re buried within the ridges inside your tongue. The small amount of oxygen results can in really bad smells.
While there’s no outright cure for this kind of thing (though there are treatments), the good news is that regular use of a tongue scraper can do a great job at getting rid of a good percentage of these bacteria.
Tongue scraping is the easiest and cheapest means of removing these bacteria. Many people prefer to use their toothbrush to scrape the surface of their tongues when they brush their teeth. This isn’t the best idea, and I’ll explain why:
1) Try jamming a toothbrush all the way into the back of your mouth. Not only is it uncomfortable, but it’s dangerous. It could easily lead to gagging, or even choking.
2. Toothbrush bristles were meant for scraping your teeth, not your tongue. The tissue on your tongue is far more sensitive than the surface of your teeth, and using a toothbrush can seriously irritate it.
3. The width of a toothbrush isn’t enough to cover the width of your tongue. You need something wider.
The shape, smooth surface, and the price of a tongue scraper make it the most conducive thing out there when it comes to removing the source of bad breath. One tongue scraper could easily last for a year or two, making it well worth the money spent (they normally go for around 10 dollars, sometimes less).
The use of a tongue scraper is absolutely recommended for anyone looking to take care of their breath. Whether you’re doing this and only this, or combining it with mouthwashes or other breath care systems, any dental professional would agree that it’s always something you should do.
For the best information on the tongue scraper, visit our tonguescraper.org.