- Why do you need to clean your tongue?
- How to clean your tongue
- How to clean your tongue
For many people, oral hygiene ends with brushing their teeth. However, cleaning your tongue is also necessary and important. Plaque and bacteria accumulate on it, from which caries develops and an unpleasant odor appears.
Regular tongue cleaning helps to avoid diseases such as stomatitis, gingivitis, caries and even periodontitis. Now we will look in detail at why you should clean your tongue and how to do it correctly and effectively.
Did our ancestors clean their tongues?
People began using tongue cleaning devices at least five centuries ago. An example of this is the mention of the need to cleanse this organ of our body in the treatises of the 10th century AD. Uzbek doctor Avicenna. For the most effective procedure, he recommended using cypress cones and tree slivers, which are rich in essential oils. In ancient China, members of the nobility used a tongue scraper to clean their tongues before each meal, as it was believed that thanks to this procedure they could fully appreciate the taste of the dishes. Residents of our country made special scrapers from silver, which disinfected the oral cavity and prevented various inflammations such as mouth ulcers, candidal stomatitis, various types of glossitis, etc.
Causes of plaque
There are several reasons for the appearance of plaque on the tongue: firstly, the physiological process of desquamation of the oral epithelium. Plaque in this case forms in small quantities, but if it is not removed regularly, quite a lot can accumulate. Secondly, these are diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, as well as acute diseases of the upper respiratory tract. If anyone paid attention, then for diseases such as tonsillitis, bronchitis, etc. A large amount of yellowish plaque forms on the root of the tongue.
Regardless of the origin of the plaque on the tongue, it must be cleaned in any case!
Cleaning your tongue with a tongue scraper
Nowadays, tongue scrapers take pride of place in the list of oral hygiene devices. Almost all of them are made of plastic and are a nozzle with a spoon-shaped tip. This excellent tongue and cheek remover needs to be replaced as often as toothbrushes. If you use it together with a rinse aid, the quality of the procedure will be one level higher. You can buy a tongue scraper at a pharmacy or order it from an online store.
Why does plaque form?
Plaque can accumulate for various reasons. The main ones include:
- decreased immunity;
- untreated oral diseases;
- infections;
- gastrointestinal diseases;
- helminthiasis;
- pathologies of the cardiovascular system;
- respiratory system diseases;
- problems with the thyroid gland;
- fungal infections;
- taking certain medications.
If the immune system is weakened, the body is more susceptible to harmful bacteria.
One of the most common causes of the formation of white plaque is gastrointestinal diseases. As the disease progresses, the plaque becomes grayish or brownish in color. Plaque can accumulate due to fungal infections. Until the source of the damage is eliminated, it will not be possible to get rid of the plaque. A similar thing happens with influenza, whooping cough and other similar diseases. In this case, the following symptoms are added to the plaque:
- enlarged and painful cervical lymph nodes;
- skin rashes;
- redness of the throat;
- enlarged tonsils.
Some foods may change the color of the film on the tongue. Such foods and drinks include beets, ink, strong tea and coffee. This plaque can be removed by regular mouth rinsing. Taking certain medications affects the balance of oral microflora and promotes plaque deposition. For example, this applies to antibiotics. After treatment is completed, deposits stop accumulating on the mucous membrane.
Tongue cleaning spoon
A tongue cleaner is just as great for removing plaque and bad breath as other tongue cleaners. It is a nozzle with a spoon-shaped tip. Using this water-supplying nozzle, you can clean your tongue quite gently and effectively. It is known, for example, that yogis use a wooden spoon or clean their tongue with three fingers wrapped in a clean bandage. You can also use an ordinary teaspoon, but then only for cleaning and, of course, individually.
Other means
When cleaning your tongue at home, other means can be used. One of the most popular ways is to use vegetable oil. A tablespoon of oil is carefully rubbed throughout the entire oral cavity. After cleansing, the oil should turn white. It must be spat out and your mouth rinsed with warm water.
The duration of the procedure is at least 15-20 minutes. It is more effective if done in the morning before eating.
Another way is to use baking soda. Dilute 2-3 teaspoons in a glass of warm water and rinse your mouth with the resulting solution. A small amount of baking soda can be applied directly to the brush to clean the tongue.
You can buy tongue cleaning gel at the pharmacy. It eliminates pathogenic bacteria, produces a softening effect, moisturizes the soft tissues of the oral cavity and provides fresh breath.
A small amount of gel is applied to the surface of the organ to be cleaned, carefully distributed, left for a few seconds and removed with a brush. The procedure can be recommended for both adults and children. Children under 12 years of age should only brush their tongue with the gel under adult supervision.
If there are injuries and various injuries, blood may bleed while cleaning the tongue. To stop bleeding, you need to press a sterile napkin to the wound surface and hold it for about 10 minutes. Hands should be washed well and disinfected with alcohol. Then rinse your mouth with cold water. Do not cauterize wounds with alcohol or treat them with iodine.
Tongue scraper brush
Many companies specializing in the manufacture of oral hygiene products offer so-called tongue scrapers. This device is a combination of a brush and a scraper; it has an elongated round shape with soft bristles. Thanks to its flat shape, cleaning the tongue is much easier (does not cause a gag reflex). You can also find brushes on sale that have bristles on one side and special rubber or plastic relief strips on the other.
Healthy and unhealthy coating on the tongue: how to determine
Even in the time of Hippocrates, healers asked patients to stick out their tongues. By assessing the thickness and color of the organ, doctors made conclusions about the state of human health. Centuries have passed, but this method of primary diagnosis is still used by many therapists, dentists, pediatricians, and otolaryngologists.
The plaque itself does not cause disease. It has various causes for its formation: poor hygiene, smoking, dyes in products, diseases of the teeth and oral cavity. If you are healthy, do not be surprised by the appearance of deposits on your tongue in hot weather, in the morning after waking up, or during the day after eating. This is normal and should not cause concern. The pale pink coating has almost no odor, changes color when using coloring products, and is easily removed with proper hygiene.
Pathology is considered to be a very dense coating through which the color of the tongue is not visible. Usually the deposits smell unpleasant, redness and cracks are visible on the surface, and after cleansing the condition of the tongue does not change. Unhealthy plaque can be brown, green, yellow and even black.
Is it possible to clean your tongue with a toothbrush?
Yes, an ordinary toothbrush with a small amount of toothpaste is often used to clean the tongue. In this case, a soft or medium-hard brush will be more suitable for you. To clean your tongue, you can also use a toothbrush with a special surface on the opposite side of the bristles. After you have brushed your teeth and rinsed your mouth, you just need to turn the brush over and start the procedure. Movements should be carried out in the direction from the back of the tongue to its tip. For the procedure, you can use not only a regular toothbrush, but also an electric or ultrasonic one, as well as an irrigator. If you are the owner of one or the other, then you just need to purchase an additional attachment for cleaning your tongue.
Insufficient cleansing of the tongue leads to the development of bacteria, which, in turn, can affect the occurrence of bad breath, diseases such as glossitis, stomatitis, caries, etc. Therefore, it is necessary to remember the hygiene of the entire oral cavity - teeth, gums and tongue.
The appearance of such formations has various reasons and factors.
- Decreased immunity.
- Dental diseases (gingivitis, stomatitis, caries, periodontitis, etc.).
- Infectious diseases.
- Gastrointestinal problems.
- Infection of the body with helminths.
- Pathologies of the heart, lungs, thyroid gland.
- Taking medications, etc.
In difficult cases, when plaque is one of the accompanying symptoms of serious diseases, consult a doctor. The disease must be identified and cured, otherwise no means to improve the microflora will help.
Rules for using a scraper
Regarding “don’t overdo it” – what does that mean? Since the tongue has a villous surface, you should not press hard on the scraper and try to remove the plaque along with the layer of papillae. Under no circumstances should there be injury . The movements are smooth, without excessive pressure from the root of the tongue to the tip over the entire surface.
As for the gag reflex - yes, of course, the sensation is not pleasant and, most importantly, uncontrollable, but despite this, you can fight it. As they say, a person gets used to everything and human language is no exception to this. The tongue can be trained to scrape, in the truest sense of the word. To start, use the scraper only on the tip of your tongue. Every day, every day, increase the area being treated until you cover the entire tongue. This adaptation may take from one week to a month.
Smokers should pay special attention to the condition of the tongue, since the formation of plaque, sedimentation of resins and temperature irritants can provoke the occurrence of unpleasant diseases, such as “black hairy tongue” and even cancerous tumors!
Take good care of yourself: wash your hands before eating, brush your teeth twice a day, and don't forget about your tongue. And remember that the mouth is the entry point for infection into the body and must be kept clean!
Clinic doctors
Cleaning your tongue is an important part of your daily oral hygiene. The surface of the tongue has a heterogeneous structure - it has many papillae, as well as tubercles and grooves where microscopic food particles accumulate, plaque collects and bacteria multiply. Therefore, the tongue should be given no less attention than the teeth.
Benefits of brushing your tongue
Regular tongue cleaning will help:
- prevent the development of caries - microbes in the oral cavity produce acids that corrode tooth enamel;
- free the tongue from a layer of plaque - it not only looks unsightly, but is also a breeding ground for bacteria;
- get rid of bad breath - it is caused by chemical compounds produced by microorganisms;
- improve the quality of perception of the taste of drinks and food - if you do not clean your tongue of plaque, the taste buds gradually become clogged with waste and toxins.
How to clean your tongue
There are different devices for cleaning the tongue:
- Scraper. There are several types of tools - in the form of a handle with a loop at the end, similar to a razor (but instead of blades it has a soft rubber coating) and a flexible curved metal strip. Plastic products are more gentle, but, like toothbrushes, they need to be changed regularly. It is enough to treat metal scrapers with a sterilizer from time to time or simply keep them in boiling water for a couple of minutes.
- Toothbrush with a ribbed surface. On the back of the working head there is a rubberized tab with which you can clean your tongue. But this device is not as effective as a scraper. Also, due to the large thickness of the head, the brush is not suitable for people with a strong gag reflex.
- Spoon. A tool in the form of a long handle with a spatula at the end copes with plaque as well as a scraper, but covers a smaller area.
- Silicone fingertip. Designed for kids. The fleecy or ribbed surface of such a brush cleans the tongue and mucous membranes of the oral cavity well. Recommended for use after the appearance of the first tooth and up to one and a half years.
How to properly clean your tongue
You can clean your tongue from plaque either with or without paste. If you use a paste, choose a product without a strong mint flavor: excess menthol irritates the papillae and can cause a burning sensation. Smokers are advised to use special pastes, since the residue from tobacco smoke is much more difficult to remove.
You need to clean your tongue from root to tip using “sweeping” movements. If a gag reflex occurs, it is better to use a scraper and not try to completely get rid of plaque immediately. In the first days, it is enough to treat the tip of the tongue; as you gradually get used to the procedure, you can move higher. The final stage after oral hygiene and tongue cleaning is rinsing with water, a special solution or infusion of medicinal herbs (chamomile, sage).
Prevention of plaque formation on the tongue
Modern methods of cleaning the tongue allow you to quickly get rid of plaque. To reduce its formation, we recommend following simple rules:
- do not abuse fried, fatty, spicy, smoked foods;
- eat fresh fruits and vegetables;
- introduce more fermented milk products into your diet.
- improve immunity;
- prevent any diseases from becoming chronic;
- maintain oral hygiene.
Equipment and hygiene products
When choosing hygiene items, you can safely be guided by personal preferences. For example, you can choose one of the following devices:
- special spoon: it includes a nozzle made of elastic material on the tip in the shape of a spoon. To remove plaque, just swipe it over the organ several times. By the way, today there are electric toothbrushes on sale, which come with a tongue tray like this:
- scraper: visually resembles a pen, but with a flat tip, which can be shaped like an oval or a triangle. Special bristles help thoroughly but gently remove bacteria and food particles,
- toothbrushes with a ribbed back: most modern models have a special grooved surface on the back of the head - it is designed to clean the tongue.
Devices for the procedure may be different.
The choice of a specific option is at your discretion. The main thing is to carry out the procedure systematically, along with brushing your teeth.
