Tongue scraping can help reduce the amount of excess debris. This can help improve your overall sense of taste. Fresher Breath The recommendation from DenTek, the manufacturer of Orabrush, is to replace this every 3-4 months, roughly the same time you would replace a manual toothbrush or an electric toothbrush head.

Most people have their dental care routine down pat, but many miss one important step that keeps the mouth healthy and the breath fresh: cleaning the tongue. An easy, simple way to keep the tongue clean is with the use of a tongue scraper, a tool designed to remove extra particles and reduce bacteria and food debris on the tongue. This can help reduce bad breath and tongue coatings, explains Alison Newgard, DDS, assistant professor of clinical dentistry in the Division of Restorative Dentistry at Columbia University College of Dentistry. The alternative design for a tongue scraper is more traditional and more rudimentary looking; a thin piece of machined metal, usuallystainless steel or copper, that has been formed into a “U” or “V” shape. It relies on the rounded but strong edge of the metal to scrape away the debris effectively.There are few side effects to using a tongue scraper. It is generally a painless and simple experience. Ultimately any cleaner, be that a scraper, tongue brush or a normal toothbrush head, are more useful to you and your breath than not cleaning your tongue at all. More often than not the scraper is made from a soft flexible plastic and has a design similar to a conventional manual toothbrush, but rather than a small head with lots of bristles it has a larger often rounded design with one or two plastic scrapers running horizontally to the rounded head frame.

With a handle much like a traditional toothbrush, the head is essentially circular with 3 scraping edges that run along the surface of the tongue. When shopping for a tongue scraper, look for either a plastic or metal material, a wide scraper head, and any added features that may help further clean the mouth. Additionally, you'll want to look for a tongue scraper that is easy to clean and disinfect, especially if you're regularly on the go. We researched dozens of tongue scrapers and cleaners and evaluated them for ease of use, materials, pricing, and added features. An orthodontist from our Medical Expert Board also reviewed the contents of this article for medical accuracy surrounding oral hygiene, the efficacy of tongue scrapers, and how to evaluate them.Gum disease and tooth decay can cause an unpleasant smell. Food and debris can get trapped in plaque. Smoking The alternative design for a tongue scraper is more traditional and more rudimentary looking; a thin piece of machined metal, usuallystainless steel or copper, that has been formed into a "U" or "V" shape. It relies on the rounded but strong edge of the metal to scrape away the debris effectively. A white, coated tongue is not attractive. Scraping can help improve the look of your tongue when smiling or laughing. Better Taste Buds No tongue cleaner equals the effectiveness of Orabrush. OraBrush is characterised by its ultra-soft and fine-pointed bristles that maneuver through the tongue tissue in a mouth-friendly way and sweep all bacteria to the surface. It is not clear what grade of metal is used in drTung’s scraper to be able to compare. I would be inclined to believe it is 316 but not marketed in this way.

So if you suffer from bad breath regularly or even occasionally physically cleaning your tongue with a scraper will go a long way to helping resolve the problem. In fact, a study by Pedrazi showed a 75% reduction in the volatile sulphur compounds when using a tongue scraper. There are numerous benefits to using a tongue scraper. Some key advantages include: Improved Tongue Appearance Wash your tongue scraper with soap and water and store it in a clean, dry area to avoid bacterial buildup. Some electric toothbrushes have a tongue cleaning mode encouraging you to use your normal toothbrush head rather than a scraper. You can usual a manual toothbrush too. Of course, using your tongue scraper daily can also assist in reducing these conditions. Potential Side Effects & Risks of Tongue Cleaning

How can I best use OraBrush?

Plastic: The two best things about plastic tongue scrapers are the low price, and that they are supremely gentle on your tongue, guaranteeing no harm will come to your taste buds. Many scrapers made from silicone or similar have texture or tiny bristles, meaning they get in between and underneath even stubborn tongue fur. The downside is they're not great for the environment and will need regular replacements. The copper can go green over time if not cleaned properly, but the use of copper rather than stainless steel is because it is understood that copper has antimicrobial properties. This is in part why it is used for pipework but when used in the mouth for such short periods, and health benefits are hard to justify. Surgical steel is often used as a marketing term that applies typically to a particular grade of stainless steel, but there is no official classification of what is surgical steel compared to normal stainless steel. However, these different ‘grades’ do relate to the makeup of the steel with ‘surgical steel’ often meeting grade 316 that helps minimise metallic contamination compared to the 440 and 420 grade that is often used in cutlery. A tongue scraper helps reduce the buildup of bacteria that causes bad breath. However, you have to use it consistently. If you use your tongue scraper in the morning, it won’t benefit you after several meals. Some, however, may not like the feeling of stainless steel on their tongue and find a plastic tongue scraper more comfortable to use. “The stainless steel tongue scrapers are best since they can be cleaned and disinfected,” says Joseph Salim, DMD, dentist at Sutton Place Dental Associates in New York. “They also last longer than their plastic counterparts.” Dr. Salim stresses that the technique used is just as important as the kind of tongue scraper used.