What is Tongue Scraping and Should I be Doing it?

Germs and bacteria are generally considered harmful, but many help to keep us healthy, and when harmful bacteria get in our bodies, methods like tongue scraping can be helpful. Here’s how it works, and why you should use it.

Bacteria and other germs have a bad rap, but many of them help keep us healthy in the form of a system known as your microbiome. This complex, diverse internal ecology contains viruses, bacteria, archaea, and microeukaryotes that support metabolic exchange and your immune system, among other functions.

In our mouths, this supports both oral and overall health, as everything travels from there into our bodies. However, when harmful bacteria develop and spread, it causes many problems that something as simple as tongue scraping can help remedy. Let’s delve into the reasons for harmful oral bacteria, what tongue scraping does to address them, and its benefits.

Dr. Nils Anderson and the dedicated team at Village Dental assist the Richmond Hill, Georgia, residents with a range of dental services to preserve oral and overall health.

Common causes of harmful oral bacteria

Harmful bacteria pose a significant threat to your mouth and, over time, your body through infection of your teeth, gums, and jawbone, caused by factors such as:

Weakened immune system: when this system fails to protect, infections can thrive and cause damage

Medical conditions: autoimmune disorders and diabetes raise the risk of infection

Using tobacco products: smoking and chewing tobacco slows blood flow to your gums and hinders healing and allowing infection

Hormonal changes: gum health can change with menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause

Dietary choices: eating too many sugars and acidic foods erodes teeth and damages gums

Bad oral hygiene: not brushing, flossing, and rinsing allows plaque and tartar buildup

How tongue scraping helps

A technique used for as many as 2,000 years, tongue scraping removes debris, dead cells, food particles, and bacteria from the tongue surface. Your tongue is covered in thousands of hairlike objects, like papillae and taste buds, that affect how you enjoy food and your general oral health. The metal or plastic scrapers eliminate them to improve tongue health.

It’s also helpful for managing yeast infections or a buildup of bacteria, bad oral habits, or tobacco use that causes discoloration on the tongue.

The scraping process

Doing this complements the brushing and flossing you should be doing routinely, which starts by placing the device on the backmost portion of your tongue. Then, gently applying pressure, pull the scraper to the front of the mouth. Never push down so hard that you hurt your tongue. Rinse the device with warm water after the first pass, then repeat as many times as needed.

Rinse your mouth with water, then spit it out. Thoroughly wash the scraper with soap and water. Keep it dry between uses. This can be done every time you brush and floss to prevent bacteria buildup.

Keeping every part of your mouth free of harmful bacteria is essential for your health, and tongue scraping can help, along with brushing and flossing. To improve and preserve oral health, make an appointment with Dr. Anderson and the Village Dental team today.