You have regular brushing and flossing down. That’s key to your dental health. While those steps are a must, there’s more you can do to maintain optimal oral health. One often overlooked practice is tongue scraping.
Our team at Le Dentistry & Associates in Norcross, Georgia, encourages tongue scraping as a daily addition to your oral hygiene routine. Here’s why.
The goals of tongue scraping
Your tongue harbors both good and bad bacteria. The bad bacteria potentially cause issues like bad breath, tooth decay, or gum disease. Tongue scraping removes debris and the bad bacteria from your tongue’s surface, preventing buildup that can lead to dental problems.
The technique of tongue scraping
Using a specially designed tool, gently scrape your tongue from back to front, ensuring to clean the scraper after each pass. This process — which we typically recommend that you do at the same time you brush your teeth — can effectively remove buildup and promote oral hygiene.
The many benefits of tongue scraping
Aside from preventing bad breath, tongue scraping offers several other advantages. These include:
Reduced risk of decay
Removing bacteria from your tongue helps lower the risk of tooth decay. Several types of bacteria that thrive on your tongue can also break down the enamel of your teeth and lead to cavities or eventually to tooth loss.
Improved tongue appearance
Scraping removes the bacteria responsible for the white coating that you sometimes see on your tongue’s surface.
Improved taste
Daily tongue scraping may enhance your sense of taste by eliminating debris and bacteria, allowing your taste buds to better detect flavors. You may be better able to differentiate sweet, salty, sour, and bitter flavors.
The gag reflex
It’s not uncommon to experience a gag reflex when scraping your tongue. You can avoid this gag reflex by paying close attention to how far back you place the scraper. A high-quality scraper can limit the risks of cuts or tissue damage. When tongue scraping isn’t feasible, using your toothbrush can serve as an alternative method.
Consider adding tongue scraping to your routine to optimize your oral health. If you have questions or concerns about tongue scraping, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at our Norcross, Georgia, office.
We’re dedicated to patient comfort and offer the latest technology and equipment to provide optimal oral care. At Le Dentistry & Associates, we’re here to help you achieve and maintain a healthy, vibrant smile.