Skip to main content

How To Choose a Good Tongue Cleaner

For many people, using a toothbrush to clean the tongue is more than enough. But others prefer to use a special device, such as a tongue cleaner that scrapes whatever gunk is left in the surface a simple brushing won't remove. Tongue cleaners are also designed to clean the back of tongue, which most people never actually do.

tongue cleaning
Why Is Tongue Cleaning Necessary?
Bad breath is caused by a lot of factors and one of this includes improper dental hygiene. If you're suffering from bad breath, it's definitely going to put a blow on presence in social functions among friends or in contributing effectively at work. You will be compelled to talk less and resign yourself to your own corner, fearful that if you open your mouth, you will drive people away. Cleaning the tongue greatly improves bad breath and it is more effective than simply brushing the teeth.

What Does It Look Like?
Tongue cleaners look like small rakes and are shaped ergonomically, meaning they are formed to follow the arch of the tongue. Shaped this way, the cleaners can trap dirt and bacteria well and clean it effectively.  They work based on shape, size and configuration, so choose what to buy carefully.

Choosing A Tongue Cleaner
Engineered for a specific purpose, tongue cleaners vary in design and material. Below are useful tips to choosing one that works best:
1. There are two kinds of tongue cleaners: a brush or a scraper. Both work effectively, but a scaper, which has a flat design, provides less gag reflex when you're trying to clean the back of your tongue. If you have a tendency to gag, then you're better off with a scraper than a brush. Most people actually go for the scraper anyway, because there's always the toothbrush for brushing.

2. Tongue cleaners also come in different sizes. If you're not sure of what to get, check your tongue in the mirror to assess the size first. Smaller scrapers are perfect for smaller mouth and children's mouth. A bigger, wide-angled cleaner is ideal for adults and can clean with just a few strokes.

3. Pick out a scraper made of durable material. In the earlier centuries, there were tongue cleaners made out of tortoise shells or ivory. These days, however, you will find less sophisticated scrapers. Some are made of copper, while others are made from stainless steel. These need to be sterilized before use and may cost more than plastic types. Plastic scrapers shouldn't be boiled, but it can be cleaned using an anti-bacterial soap.

4. Some tongue scrapers come with special features that make it look adorable. But you probably don't need most of the features, as manufacturers add this only to make the product more marketable, especially with kids. If you have to use scrapers with children, though, then getting this type will probably be helpful.

Using A Tongue Cleaner
Before brushing the teeth, point your scraper inside the mouth and then reach out from the back and slowly glide the scraper towards the front in a swift and fluid movement. Do this at least 3 to 4 times. Some suggest applying toothpaste on the scraper, and then proceeding with brushing the teeth afterwards, followed by flossing. Gargle with a mouthwash last, to complete the oral hygiene process.

There will be some gagging reflex the first time you use a tongue cleaner, but if you do this often, you will already get used to the process. Store this in a clean and dry place when not in use.
Pertinent to good health and beauty is oral hygiene. If you don't have a regular habit of doing this, you risk developing several mouth problems. If you have braces on, oral care is even more important.

(Guest Post by Helen)

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Highly Effective Indian Home remedies For Delayed Periods

Delayed periods or Irregular menstrual periods have become very common these days for a lot of women in their reproductive age and they suffer great agonies when their period does not come on time. A delay of 4-5 days may be fine but if it exceeds 8 days, then it's certainly a cause for concern. In this post, I'll be sharing highly effective Indian home remedies for your delayed periods . I'd been a long sufferer of irregular periods during my teenage to early twenties. I've tried most of the recipes here, along with Kapalabhati pranayama, yoga poses, mudras and other lifestyle habits. Now my periods are extremely regular like clockwork; not a day less or more than 28. When I look back, I'm surprised how I managed those years of anxiety and fear about my late periods. 

11 things you can do with olive oil

Besides lemon , milk , sugar , aloe , turmeric , sandalwood and honey , olive oil is another household item that has multifarious uses as a beauty aid. It is a mild, non-irritant, antibacterial oil that is rich in antioxidants; hence is ideal for the skin. Here are a few things that you could do with olive oil .

Home remedies for sleeplessness

The day dawns beautifully for those who have had a night of good sleep. But the same day drags on for those who have spent a disturbing, sleepless night. Sleep is a biological necessity even as eating and drinking are. Sufficient sleep renders a person normally sociable, lively and high-spirited. It’s a nature’s way of rejuvenating the person for the next day. Realize all this, and make sleep a physiological habit. The consequences of long time sleep deprivation can be very grave. Lack of sleep takes its toll on the skin and hair. It causes acne-breakouts and makes one look aged and haggard beyond years. Experts opine that during sleep as our metabolic rate falls, blood goes to those areas which need the most repairing. This also steps up the production of collagen and keratin, which aid the regeneration of skin cells and help resist premature ageing. So for a younger looking and a problem free skin you need to have a good quality of sleep every night.

Get rid of head lice with these home remedies

Lice infestation is such a bothersome, distracting and embarrassing problem. Surely everyone harbors them at one time or the other. It is usually common among school children but soon spreads to other members of the family. Contrary to popular belief, it is not a sign of poor hygiene, as lice are not fussy whether they lay their eggs in clean or dirty hair. But yes, a dirty scalp can well serve as a perfect breeding ground for these tiresome creatures. Lice get transferred easily from child to child owing to the close contact of heads, during play, while sitting together or by sharing caps. Though there are many chemical and herbal over-the-counter preparations to remove lice, it is better to refrain from using them for they might also remove a good bit of your hair, while others could have a drying effect on the hair.  There are many home-remedies which do work well but the age-old method of regular combing with a close-toothed comb on all counts, is the most eff...

Kapalabhati Pranayam for wrinkle-free, radiant complexion

Did you know that Kapalabhati Pranayam / kriya can also be used to enhance your beauty and ward off skin aging? Done the right way,  Kapalabhati Pranayam can be used as a beauty aid - it can give you a wrinkle-free, luminous forehead and radiant complexion. Kapalabhati For Beauty   ‘Kapalabhati’ Pranayam breathing exercise is an excellent way of maintaining good health and fighting diseases. ‘Kapala’ means ‘skull’ (and ‘forehead’ also) and ‘bhati’ means ‘shining’. By doing kapalabhati, the ‘nadis’(nerves) of the brain get good exercise. This is achieved by exercising the diaphragm. There will be a glow on the forehead. After the age of 25, the tell-tale signs of ageing start making their appearance in the form of fine lines on the forehead. A regular practice of Kapalabhati for 10-15 minutes everyday will give you a tight forehead sans wrinkles for many years to come. Avoid Botox, try Kapalabhati Why resort to Botox   and other expensive chemical or surgica...