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The best way to reduce the number of bacteria in your mouth is to clean your tongue twice daily after brushing your teeth. Removing that debris from your tongue before bedtime can also help reduce bad morning breath and get rid of it when you wake up.
A brownish-yellow tongue can be caused by a buildup of bacteria, food debris, or dead cells on the surface of the tongue. It can also be a sign of dehydration or liver disease. Consulting a healthcare professional can help determine the underlying cause.
But since your tongue harbors an estimated 50% of the bacteria in your mouth, you don't want to neglect it. This bacteria contributes to bad breath, cavities, and gum disease, so the cleaner you can keep your tongue, the better.
Scraping your tongue will prevent toxins from getting reabsorbed by your body. Tongue scraping is especially crucial while you're sick since a lot of gunk from coughing, sneezing, or sucking on cough drops or other medicines can build up on the back of the tongue.
Irritation and Sensitivity:
Excessive scraping may lead to irritation and increased sensitivity of the tongue's surface. This can result in discomfort and make the oral care routine less pleasant.
A white tongue can be caused by many factors, such as dehydration, a build-up of bacteria, or even a medical condition. If your tongue remains white after scraping, you may want to drink more water or consult a dentist for advice.
Do Dentists Recommend Tongue Scraping? Though there's no harm in adding tongue scraping to your routine, it isn't necessary for good dental hygiene, according to the American Dental Association (ADA). The ADA's basic pillars of good dental hygiene remain the same: Brush at least twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste.
A white tongue can be a sign of a health condition, such as anaemia, scarlet fever, lichen planus, leukoplakia, geographic tongue, mouth ulcers or oral thrush. But do not self-diagnose. See a GP if you're worried.
If you suffer from HIV, diabetes, hypothyroidism, or a weakened immune system, you may be more prone to getting oral thrush, which causes a white tongue. Syphilis, a sexually transmitted disease, can also cause white spots on the tongue, which are called syphilitic leukoplakia.
Generally speaking, a good rule of thumb is to allow around two minutes to scrape your tongue after brushing your teeth. As with brushing your teeth with a toothbrush, there are plenty of ways you can make brushing your tongue easier and even fun.
Scraping VS Brushing
It's used to scrape from the back of the tongue to the front, which brings all that nastiness to a position where you can safely dispose of it in the bathroom sink. Using a toothbrush provides a similar experience, except with bristles instead of thin plastic.
Healthy tongue color is pink, though the specific shades may range from light to dark. A healthy, normal-colored tongue also has small bumps all over its surface. These are papillae. They help you speak, taste, chew and swallow.
Small sores known as chancres may appear on the tongue or in or around the mouth. Someone may only have one sore, or they may have several. It is most common to only have one sore. Symptoms of oral syphilis typically appear around 21 days after exposure, although may show up anywhere between 10-90 days.
Brush your tongue or use a tongue scraper twice a day. Clean bridges, dentures, retainers and mouth guards once a day to eliminate bacteria. Drink water throughout the day to keep your mouth moist and rinse away food debris and bacteria in your mouth. Avoid cigarettes and other tobacco products.
Side effects include irritation if you use your tongue scraper too aggressively. If you still notice irritation no matter how gentle you are, scrape less often or use your toothbrush instead. Also, don't place the tongue scraper too far back on your tongue, otherwise you'll test your gag reflex.
It will not heal existing decay. However, when used in conjunction with proper daily brushing and flossing habits as a preventive measure, it may improve bad breath, help to decrease staining, and benefit in other ways.
The natural bleaching and exfoliating prosperity of baking soda may decrease the growth of bacteria that causes white patches on the tongue. By mixing baking soda with water to create a paste and applying it directly to the affected area, the patch may gradually lighten and disappear over time.
If you're looking for a durable tongue scraper that you won't have to replace for many years to come, stainless steel is the best choice. Our dentists both agree that the MasterMedi Tongue Scraper is the best overall. Dr. Gonchar says this is a simple metal tongue scraper without abrasive bristles.
A 2004 study found that two weeks of tongue scraping resulted in an improved sense of taste.