Tongue hygiene is a very important part of oral health care. Even if you brush your teeth several times a day, it won’t be enough if you don’t pay attention to the cleanliness of your tongue. If you don’t regularly clean your tongue, a white film will develop on the upper surface, which is actually the accumulated debris from food and saliva. This coating is a very attractive breeding ground for odor-causing bacteria.
Some people use their toothbrushes to clean their tongues, which works just fine. However, if you want a more thorough cleaning, it is better to use a tongue scraper. It is a tool that is used to scrape off the unwanted film from your tongue as you run it from the back all the way to the tip of the tongue. Tongue cleaner manufacturers use different materials for these tools, including plastic, wood and metal.
Tongue scrapers come in different designs, sizes or shapes. However, the function and the method of using them are essentially the same. If you are an oral brand reseller or if you have your own brand of oral care products, it would be wise to include tongue scrapers in your line of products.
Differences between Types of Tongue Scrapers
As mentioned, tongue cleaner manufacturers use a variety of materials for their tongue scrapers. The most popular choices are plastic and metal. There is no single best type of tongue scraper to use because each material has its own pros and cons. Thus, you have to understand the properties of each variety in order to figure out which would be the most suitable choice for you.
Plastic Tongue Scrapers
There is no question that plastic tongue scrapers are the most affordable kind. This is precise because the mass production of plastic is now very cheap. For this reason alone, a lot of people that are on a budget tend to go for plastic scrapers.
These types of tongue cleaners typically have a long handle that is very much alike that of a toothbrush. The head consists of one or two bars that will serve as the actual scraping tool. Sometimes, tongue cleaner manufacturers attach tiny bristles onto these bars to further improve the results of the scraping procedure.
Metal Tongue Scrapers
Compared to plastic scrapers, metal tongue scrapers are definitely a little bit more expensive because of the higher cost of the raw material. In terms of appearance, metal tongue scrapers usually look like a rounded V. This design is to ensure that the entire upper surface of the tongue is cleaned with each stroke. It is therefore a very efficient and time-saving dental tool. Not only that, metal lasts much longer than plastic, so these tongue cleaners might be much better long-term investments.
Copper Tongue Scrapers
One of the more common metals used by tongue cleaner manufacturers is copper. Since ancient times, copper has been recognized in Ayurvedic medicine for its anti-bacterial properties. So aside from getting rid of the debris on your tongue, a copper tongue scraper will actually also protect your tongue from microbes. Since copper is also highly resistant to bacteria, you can be sure that it will stay clean even while in storage.
Stainless Steel Tongue Scrapers
Stainless steel tongue scrapers have the distinct U shape of most metal cleaners. This ensures fast and efficient cleaning of your tongue with just a very small number of strokes. Stainless steel is also a good material for repelling bad bacteria.
For maximum cleaning effects, it would be wise to choose tongue cleaners that are all metal, rather than those that come with plastic handles.
How to Use a Tongue Scraper
It is not hard at all to use a tongue scraper properly. Even if you have never used one before, it would only take a couple of strokes for you to master it. Here are the very simple steps to follow.
First, stick out your tongue in front of the mirror so that you see what you are doing. Position the scraping end of the tongue cleaner as far back on your tongue without triggering a gag reflex. It’s perfectly fine to start in the middle of the tongue if you are not comfortable.
Press the scraper down slightly against your tongue and pull it slowly towards the tip of your tongue. After each stroke, clean off the scraper with a washcloth or a piece of tissue, or rinse it in running water. Repeat the process until your tongue is clean. With a good tongue scraper, it usually takes just two strokes per area to get the job done.
Clean the tongue scraper thoroughly when you are finished by washing with soap and water. Make sure that it is completely dry before you keep it in a clean and dry location. This would minimize the risks of bacteria growing on it while in storage.
Conclusion
A coated tongue is not really a rare incidence. It is quite common among people who smoke or take certain kinds of medication. People who suffer from conditions like dry mouth or yeast infection are also more prone to getting this white film on their tongue. It also happens if you don’t make a habit of cleaning your tongue regularly.
A white coating over your tongue is not very pleasant to look at and it can also cause bad breath because of the bacteria buildup. The good news is that you can easily get rid of this coating with the use of a good tongue scraper. It also doesn’t take a lot of effort to use a tongue scraper. It will just take a few strokes of the tool to clean your mouth and you just have to do it once a day.
There are many different kinds of tongue scrapers that you can choose from. Tongue cleaner manufacturers make them in different shapes, sizes and materials. All you have to do is pick the product that suits you best and make sure to scrape your tongue at least once a day.
