Tongue cleaner
A tongue cleaner is an instrument used to clean and maintain the tongue in the context of oral hygiene . There are tongue brushes , tongue scrapers ( tongue scrapers ) and combinations of both. With a tongue cleaner, the tongue coating can be removed from the tongue surface easily, carefully and without side effects.
function
The front two-thirds of the tongue often come into contact with the roof of the mouth through speaking and swallowing . This will keep that part of the tongue clean. On the other hand, a layer of leftover food can form on the back third of the tongue. This forms a breeding ground for bacteria and fungi, which can lead to diseases of the oral mucosa. The decomposition processes produce gases that can be responsible for bad breath . The connection between tongue coating and bad breath was scientifically proven for the first time in 1920. In about 80% of all cases, the cause of the bad breath is to be found in the throat area, and most of it on the tongue. Only in the remaining fifth is bad breath caused by problems in the nasal cavity or diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. The tongue coating arises as a result of the excretion processes of the body. By removing it, one supports the organism in its cleansing.
Another reason for cleaning the tongue is to increase the sense of taste, as the taste buds (papillae) are cleaned.
Tongue cleaners have long been known in Ayurveda (traditional Indian healing art). In the past, small, flavored branches were mainly used. Tongue cleaning is a matter of course in many Asian countries; it is still relatively unknown in Europe. Tongue cleaners are increasingly being used for aesthetic reasons, in order to maintain a pink tongue as a symbol of health and beauty. Especially in India, having a pink tongue represents good health.
An ordinary toothbrush is only partially suitable for cleaning the tongue. Special tongue cleaners are flatter, so that contact with the uvula and thus the gag reflex is avoided. In addition, toothbrushes cannot pull the plaque off and, if used too carelessly, damage the papillae.
Use after brushing your teeth, pulling the tongue cleaner from back to front over your tongue with light pressure and rinsing the plaque under running water. This process is repeated 3 to 4 times.
Tongue scraper
Tongue scrapers are available in different shapes: For example, as a curved rod with a flattened curve made of stainless steel or made of plastic in a shape similar to a wet razor.
There are tongue scrapers that are straight and curved for use on the tongue. Models that adapt to the tongue anatomy have a kind of belly that engages in the groove of the tongue for a better cleaning effect.
Tongue scrapers made of stainless steel or silver are easy to clean and have a long service life. Plastic products are increasingly coming onto the market in Europe, but they do not have the durability and hygiene of the silver and stainless steel tongue scrapers.
Tongue brush
The tongue brush has small bristle heads on one side, similar to a toothbrush , with which the tongue is cleaned. However, like toothbrushes, the tongue brushes must be replaced regularly. They often have a tongue scraper on the back.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Peter A. Ehrl: Successful sample texts for the dental practice , Spitta Verlag GmbH & Co. KG, ISBN 978-3-921883-40-2 , page 87 [1]
- ↑ a b Klaus-Dieter Hellwege: The practice of dental prophylaxis , Georg Thieme Verlag, 2003 ISBN 978-3-13-127186-0 , page 119 online
- ↑ Jean-François Roulet, Stefan Zimmer: Prophylaxis and Preventive Dentistry Volume 16, Georg Thieme Verlag, 2003, ISBN 978-3-13-135651-2 , page 50 online
