The Benefits of Using a Tongue Scraper By Dr. David Wyse on April 17, 2017

At Chrisman & Wyse Cosmetic & General Dentistry, we offer more than just world-class restorative dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, and general dentistry. We view ourselves as partners in oral and overall health with our patients, a role that we take very seriously. This means that our responsibility does not end when our patients walk out of our office doors and resume when they return for their next appointment. Good oral health is essential to optimal quality of life, which means that our responsibility to our patients is ongoing.

This is why we provide our patients with the tools and education they need to take full control of their oral health between visits to our practice. We provide them with tips, instructions, and insights designed to help keep their mouths in excellent condition for a lifetime. Among the tips that our patients have generally found most interesting, useful, and unusual is that they use tongue scrapers in addition to their normal brushing, flossing, and rinsing routines. When Dr. Jay W. Chrisman and Dr. David D. Wyse discuss the benefits of tongue scrapers during consultations at their Bloomington, IL practice, patients are often skeptical at first. After they try tongue scraping, however, many patients wonder how they ever got along without it.

We urge you to try the ancient practice of tongue scraping today - and while you’re at it, schedule your initial consultation with Dr. Chrisman or Dr. Wyse at Chrisman & Wyse Cosmetic & General Dentistry.

What Are the Benefits of Tongue Scraping?

The practice of tongue scraping dates back centuries to ancient India; however, its benefits have remained largely unchanged between then and now. Though its popularity has increased again in recent years, it is one trend that won’t set you back much: the average tongue scraper costs only about $7 off the shelf.

Here are just some of the benefits you will enjoy when you use a tongue scraper:

Food will taste better: By removing layers of bacteria, food particles, and dead skin cells from the tongue, you will uncover the taste buds, fully allowing them the opportunity to savor the flavor of the foods and beverages you love most.
You will promote healthy digestion: Taste is actually the first stage of proper digestion; believe it or not, the better you taste foods, the better you will digest them. Likewise, the toxins that reside on your tongue interfere with digestion. By removing these toxins, you further aid proper digestion.
You improve your oral health: It may seem obvious that you improve your oral health by removing a layer of toxins from your tongue, but it may not be obvious how. Did you know, for instance, that you can develop plaque on your tongue? This plaque can easily spread to your teeth. However, when you scrape your tongue, you stop one source of plaque before it has a chance to spread.
Your breath will improve: Bad breath can be indicative of several possible oral health problems, from dry mouth syndrome to gum disease. However, it is often a symptom of a tongue coated in toxins. Your breath could dramatically improve through a tongue scraping regimen.