Tongue scrapers have been used for thousands of years to remove bacteria, dead skin cells, fungi, and undigested food from the tongue. They should be used before brushing and flossing to prevent debris from escaping into the back of the throat. Without cleaning the tongue, various diseases can invade the human body. A tongue scraper is an easy, cheap, convenient and fast tool that promotes good oral hygiene and helps maintain proper pH balance in the mouth.
A tongue scraper is an ergonomic device used to cleanse the tongue of bacteria, dead skin cells, fungi, and undigested food. The concept dates back thousands of years to ancient China and India, and tongue cleaners have been used by the elite and the health conscience ever since. In the 1980s, tongue scrapers found their way back into mainstream society.
The surface of the tongue is made up of a series of papillae (puh-pih-lee). The papillae at the front of the tongue are small taste buds. The larger nodules at the back of the tongue are responsible for flushing the tongue with digestive enzymes so that the taste buds can recognize and respond to different sweet, sour, salty, bitter, or umami (salty) introductions.
Tongue scrapers should be used before brushing and flossing to prevent debris from escaping into the back of the throat and being reintroduced into the body. Only the small papillae should be scraped as larger nodules can become damaged or irritated. One should start using the tongue scraper as far back as possible before the line where the largest valvular papillae begin.
The average child has around 10,000 taste buds, but as they get older, the number decreases. Smoking and ill health reduce reproduction as we age. Caring for and using a tongue scraper will keep our taste buds healthy and reproducing at a higher rate.
The accumulation of microorganisms that colonize the tongue extends to all areas of the mouth. More than 70% of bacterial and fungal microorganisms in the mouth reside on the tongue. Without cleaning the tongue, anything from plaque, tooth decay, oral cancer, periodontal disease, candida, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic lung and respiratory disease, pneumonia, osteoporosis of the jaw, premature birth and more are capable of invading the human body as a result. Invasions occur mainly through the bloodstream and digestive tract.
Furthermore, the combination of decaying bacteria and amino acids produces sulfur compounds. This accumulates in the back of the tongue around the vallate papillae (large papillae) and is the primary cause of bad breath in 80-95% of cases. Those who use a tongue scraper, even if the large papillae are not scraped, prevent the accumulation of debris so that bad breath is significantly reduced. People with conditions like allergies or asthma find that sinus drainage can also contribute to bacteria buildup, resulting in bad breath.
A tongue scraper is an easy, cheap, convenient and fast tool. They are designed from plastic materials to sterling silver. In the 19th century, they were handcrafted using ivory and tortoiseshell. This simple device promotes good oral hygiene and helps maintain proper pH balance in the mouth. As an added benefit, the tongue scraper improves your sense of taste while keeping your taste buds healthy.
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