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Importance of Tongue Cleaning
Our tongue, the gateway to the all important
digestive system is also home of number of bacteria that
cause several health hazards. The rough papillary
surface of tongue provides an ideal environment for
collection of desquamated cells, food debris and
bacterial growth. Hence, it is important to clean the
tongue regularly to remove those bacteria and other
disease causing particles.
The following are areas where tongue cleaning assumes
significant importance.
Bad Breath: Bad breath is mainly caused by the
bacteria on the tongue. We usually assume that cleaning
teeth and maintaining healthy gums is sufficient to
achieve fresh breath. But in reality, it is the tongue
cleaning that is more important as the brushing reduces
breath odour by 25% and cleaning the tongue reduces
breath odour by 75%! Thus, tongue cleaning is the most
effective method of decreasing breath odour.
Dental Plaque:
Some recent scientific studies have shown that the
micro-organisms found at the top of the tongue harbour
are possible source of bacteria for dental plaque. Hence,
the regular tongue cleaning not only produces a
clinically clean or pink tongue, but also contributes in
a big way in the reduction of dental plaque.
Gustation: Our taste buds are complex epithelial
structures that transmit the taste sensations to the
brain. There are chemical substances in the food which
must be dissolved in saliva before they can enter the
taste pores and stimulate the nerve endings. These taste
buds do not work properly if the tongue is dirty and we
do not enjoy the flavour of the food. If the tongue is
cleaned, we would be capable of savouring the most
refined of tastes.
Health: Tongue is always considered a key
predictor of illness. The dentists and physicians alike
relied much upon tongue as a diagnostic means to identify
many health problems. A clean pink tongue is considered
the sign of sound health.
Benefits of tongue cleaning:
1. It removes the toxins and bacteria from the tongue
that cause bad breath and other oral problems.
2. It massages the taste buds and improves the sense of
taste.
3. It also helps to improve digestion.
4. It helps to remove unattractive coating from the
tongue.
5. It helps in reduction of dental plaque.
Why use Tongue Cleaner
Tongue cleaning is an important part of the daily oral
hygiene routine, along with brushing and flossing of the
teeth. Many people ignore this essential practice or do
not use proper equipment for tongue cleaning. It is very
common to clean tongue with finger or with toothbrush.
But it is not the right way, the hardness to effectively
clean the tongue. The tongue cleaner has a unique shape
that facilitates the user to reach the farthest areas of
tongue. It helps to removes the bacteria, organic debris
and mucous from the tiny grooves on the tongue surface
with great ease and efficiency.
What to see in a tongue cleaner
It is better to use a tongue cleaner made of pure and
unalloyed elements like, copper, silver, etc. as these
metals impart significant benefits to the human body
instead of processed plastic cleaners. Copper is most
widely used and tested metal that have been in use for
making tongue cleaners for centuries. It is time tested
to keep away the tongue diseases.
The most important feature of a tongue cleaner is its
bend. It should have the enough flexibility in its bend
to reach every part of the tongue, the higher the
flexibility, the better is the tongue cleaner.
The tongue cleaner should have non-gagging shape. The
arms of the cleaner must be wider apart, this ensures
comfortable handling while cleaning and ensures best
surface area coverage with each stroke.
How to use Tongue cleaner
There are many methods of tongue cleaning, but the main
aim is to scrape away the maximum bacteria and debris
from the surface of the tongue. It is not important what
method you choose to use, you should try to clean as far
back on your tongue as possible. In order to clean your
tongue with tongue cleaner stick out your tongue, hold
the two ends in of the cleaner in your hands and bring
the curve of the tongue cleaner inside the mouth. Gently
scrape forward along the tongue a few times rinsing the
white mucous off the scraper between scrapings. Rinse out
the mouth once you are done.
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