During this challenging time of social distancing, the ADA has recommended that dentists and patients postpone routine dental procedures. These include check-ups, cleanings, and aesthetic procedures.
It is more important than ever to keep up with your at-home dental routine. That means brushing and flossing regularly. Is there an additional step you can take to maintain a healthy mouth? In fact, there is: tongue-scraping.
Only recently has tongue-scraping gained popularity here in the West. Many other parts of the world have been practicing tongue-scraping for centuries. It’s a simple, inexpensive way to remove bacteria that can cause bad breath, gum disease, and tooth decay.
Tongue scrapers are available in many pharmacies and supermarkets. They can be made of wood, metal, or plastic and range in price from $1 to $185. While you can use your toothbrush, it’s not as effective. Go easy…your tongue is delicate. Here are some techniques:
Here’s how to clean your tongue using a tongue scraper:
- Select a tongue scraping instrument. This may be plastic or metal. It may be bent in half making a V shape or have a handle with a rounded edge at the top. Shop online for tongue scrapers.
- Stick out your tongue as far as you can.
- Place your tongue scraper toward the back of your tongue.
- Press the scraper on your tongue and move it toward the front of your tongue while applying pressure.
- Run the tongue scraper under warm water to clear any debris and bacteria from the device. Spit out any excess saliva that may have built up during the tongue scraping.
- Repeat steps 2 to 5 several more times. As needed, adjust your tongue scraper placement and the pressure you apply to it to prevent a gag reflex.
- Clean the tongue scraper and store it for the next use. You can scrape your tongue once or twice a day. If you gag during the process, you may want to scrape your tongue before eating breakfast to avoid vomiting.
It has always been important to take care of your teeth. It is more important than ever to have a dental plan from your association and AMBA. Lean more online at http://www.ambadentalvision.com/ or call (866)979-0497.
