Should you scrape your tongue before or after brushing? You should scrape your tongue once a day, and most experts recommend that you do it after brushing either in the morning or evening.
You can use a tongue scraper before or after brushing your teeth, depending on your personal preference. It doesn't matter when you clean your tongue, as long as you do it at least twice per day.
If you do not brush your tongue, you are skipping a large area where many bacteria gather in colonies, and eventually cause trouble in your mouth. In addition to causing oral health problems, if you do not brush your tongue, you may start suffering from halitosis (bad breath).
Position your toothbrush at the back of the tongue. Brush lightly forward and backward along your tongue. Spit out saliva that appears during the brushing and rinse out the toothbrush with warm water. Clean your tongue as often as you brush your teeth.
Bacteria on the tongue is extremely sticky. Food and drink particles can get stuck on the bacteria. If it isn't removed your tongue may start to develop a discolored appearance and look hairy. A condition known as oral thrush, or a yeast infection, can develop when the bacteria in the mouth are left to multiple.
White tongue is the result of an overgrowth and swelling of the fingerlike projections (papillae) on the surface of your tongue. The appearance of a white coating is caused by debris, bacteria and dead cells getting lodged between the enlarged and sometimes inflamed papillae.
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.
Treatment options
You may be able to remove the white coating from your tongue by gently brushing it with a soft toothbrush. Or softly run a tongue scraper across your tongue. Drinking lots of water can also help flush bacteria and debris out of your mouth.
A tongue scraper is always good to have as food gets stuck in the cracks of your tongue and can cause bad breath. They say brush your tongue when you brush your teeth but a tongue scraper works much better. Last but not least… mouthwash… in most cases.
It shouldn't hurt or do any damage to your tongue. If it does, you're pressing too hard on the scraper, so use less pressure. Rinse the scraper in warm water after each pass, and finish by rinsing it again and swishing your mouth out with water.
What happens if you use a tongue scraper too hard? If you press too hard, the tongue scraper can damage your taste buds. If you use the tool correctly with light pressure, though, it shouldn't hurt or cause any problems. Make sure your scraper doesn't have any sharp edges that could cause an injury.
Most people brush, floss and then use mouthwash. And some just brush, skipping the other two steps. As it turns out, it's actually more effective to floss, use mouthwash, then brush, according to dentists — and they don't recommend skipping any steps.
As with a tongue scraper, you should only brush as far back as the end of your tongue groove. Do not brush your tonsils on either side of your tongue.
A healthy tongue should be pink in color with small nodules called papillae over the surface. Certain medical disorders may cause your tongue to change in appearance, and a color-changing tongue could be your first indication of a severe underlying issue.
After cleaning your tongue with either a scraper or toothbrush, check your tongue in a mirror. If it is pink and fresh looking, that means you cleaned it properly. However, if you notice a white or yellowish discoloration, clean it a few more times!
A healthy tongue should be pink in color, with little nodules called papillae scattered throughout the surface. Bright Red: Many factors can contribute to a bright red tongue, including inflammation, infection, a blood disorder, an underlying heart issue, or a vitamin B12 deficiency.
While everyone's tongue may look slightly different, a “typical healthy” tongue has similar characteristics. It ought to be pink, with a thin whitish coating on the surface. Papillae are also prevalent on a healthy tongue. These are small nodules along the surface that help you eat and taste your food.
Why is my tongue white? White tongue is usually caused when bacteria, debris (like food and sugar) and dead cells get trapped between the papillae on the surface of your tongue. These string-like papillae then grow large and swell up, sometimes becoming inflamed. This creates the white patch you see on your tongue.
We recommend trying foods with known anti-microbial properties, such as chopped onions, garlic, ginger, and coconuts. This will help you to fight the harmful bacteria that resides on your tongue. You might also consider adding iron-rich foods into your diet.
It is common for bacteria, food debris, and dead cells to build upon your tongue over time. This can harm your overall oral health and lead to bad breath. Tongue scraping is an effective and fast way to remove these particles from the surface of your tongue.
Ultimately, metal tongue scrapers are the better choice for your oral care, health and the planet. If you're on the market for one, consider choosing our stainless steel tongue cleaner. It got thick durable handles, a U-shape and comes to you completely plastic-free!
Does mouthwash clean your tongue? Mouthwash can be helpful in maintaining oral health, but it isn't a substitute for brushing and flossing. Rinsing with antiseptic mouthwash kills bacteria in the mouth, but can't remove bacteria hiding in the crevices of the tongue.
You certainly do. Fluoride toothpaste can clean your tongue just as effectively as cleaning your teeth. There are, however, specialty tongue brushes that exist to allow you to brush your tongue more thoroughly and reach all the way in the back, to boot.