| The Purpose of Tongue Cleaning -
Studies suggest that brushing and flossing should be
accompanied by tongue cleaning in order to achieve a truly cleansed
oral cavity. By removing the soft plaque from the tongue dorsum
(especially the anaerobic, posterior areas), you are removing most of
the bacteria and other debris that are the primary source of gaseous
volatile-sulfur compounds (halitosis), hard plaque (tartar) and mineral
leaching acids (tooth decay).
Tongue cleaning is:
 | chemical-free |
| removes the plaque and other debris from your
tongue, instead of just masking it |
| comfortable |
| easy |
| takes less time than using a rinse. |
The latest research associates the bacteria
in our mouths to heart disease
and other ailments. The bottom line - for dramatically better oral
hygiene and health just go to the source and clean your tongue, safely
and effectively.
Up To Top
It is impossible to remove all the bacteria from the
mouth because it is constantly under attack by the gram negative
anaerobic bacteria which thrives in the anaerobic environment of the
posterior dorsal villa of the tongue These anaerobic type bacteria
include the likes of A. actinomycetemcomitans, B. forsythus, T.
denticola, P. intermedia and P.gingivalis and are readily associated
with periodontal disease.
Brushing the tongue does little more than mash the
bacteria and plaque deeper into the filliform, without addressing
the real problem at the posterior part of the tongue. Tongue
cleaning, with the proper instrument,
mechanically removes a huge proportion of the balance of bacteria
remaining in the mouth after brushing and flossing.
The rinses or pastes that have an antimicrobial effect
work by changing the Ph and/or another biochemical component related to
one facet of the oral environment. Alcohol is probably the worst
rinse ingredient because of its drying effect on the oral tissues
(actually, this promotes the growth of anaerobic bacteria) and the
possibility that long-term use may cause oral
cancers.
Tongue Scraper Gentle Tongue
Scraper (3-pak)
While brushing and flossing should remove 25% of the odors
in your mouth,
scraping your tongue can remove up to 75%
You can gently clean the surface of their
tongue with the BreathRx Gentle Tongue Scraper at home. The simple and
easy action of tongue deplaquing has been shown to significantly reduce
oral malodor, and should become a regular part of every hygiene routine.
Use the Gentle Tongue Scraper with the Anti-Bacterial Tongue spray to
ensure that you and your patients experience all-day fresh breath.
3-pak.
Up To Top
In terms of general health, there is great incentive
to mechanically remove the bulk of the bacteria in the mouth by cleaning
the tongue. Many recent studies have shown that several of the
bacteria in the mouth can enter the bloodstream and promote blood clots
and damage heart muscle tissue.
The bacteria Clostridium perfingens, which is commonly found in the oral
cavity, is suspected of being one of the major culprits . Other
research suggests that newborns with low birth weight may be associated
with the toxic byproducts released by the bacteria from gum infections
in pregnant women. There are
also ongoing studies that link the worsening
symptoms of both diabetes
and periodontal disease. As
well, bacteria found in the mouth can end up in the airways and
increase the risk of complications associated with chronic lung
conditions and respiratory disease.
For dramatically better oral hygiene and health, daily
tongue cleaning is the safest and most effective choice
Up To Top
Tongue Cleaning News Update
Tongue Scrapers
only Slightly Reduce Bad Breath
At least 40 million
Americans suffer from halitosis. Unfortunately, there is no standard
treatment for it.
According to
a study in the September/October issue of General Dentistry, the Academy of General Dentistry’s
(AGD) clinical, peer-reviewed journal, halitosis is a term used to
describe any disagreeable odor of expired air. Bad breath is a
generally accepted term for foul smells emanating from the mouth. Oral
malodor is a term reserved for unpleasant smells originating from the
oral cavity. A common reason for bad breath is post-nasal drip, which
coats the back area of the tongue with bacteria-rich mucous, A tongue
scraper is often effective in relieving oral malodor caused by sinus
drainage.
The study
reviewed literature examining the effects of using tongue scrapers to
brush the tongue, rather than using a toothbrush to scrape the tongue.
Data revealed that a tongue cleaner/scraper demonstrated a significant
difference in reducing volatile sulfur compounds (VSC) levels, which are
produced when bacteria and amino acids interact to produce bad breath.
Though there
is no standard treatment, bacteria-causing halitosis can be reduced by
brushing or scraping the middle and
back of the tongue. Tongue scraping
can lower VSC concentration, subsequently reducing oral malodor.
However, that reduction is only short-term, and not an absolute solution
for eliminating malodor.
Despite the
short-term reduction, tongue scrapers are a good tool for the
short-term. Tongue cleaners and scrapers are straightforward and
comfortable to use, easy to transport, and inexpensively priced.
Cleaning the tongue is quickly and easily accomplished. Everyone from
children to elders should be able to incorporate this technique into
their oral care regimen. 10/06
Up To Top
Impact of
tongue cleansers on microbial load and taste
Tongue cleaning has been advocated to improve oral malodor and to reduce
reinfection of periodontal niches by eliminating tonguecoating and/or
reducing putrefaction by bacteria.
Both devices had been used twice daily for 2 weeks (toothbrush three
forward-backward movements along the linea mediana and for each
longitudinal third of the tongue; two strokes with the scraper along the
linea mediana and along the borders of the tongue).
Two weeks of tongue brushing or scraping resulted in only negligible
reductions in aerobic and anaerobic bacteria on the tongueThe amount of
tongue coating, however, decreased significantly with both devices. The
taste sensation improved after 2 weeks of tongue cleaning, especially
with the scraper.
Tongue cleaning improves taste sensation and seems to reduce the
substrata for putrefaction, rather than the bacterial load.
[Quirynen M, Avontroodt P, Soers C, Zhao H,
Pauwels M, van Steenberghe D. Impact of tongue cleansers on microbial
load and taste. J Clin Periodontol 2004;31(7): 506 - 510.]
Up To Top
It is estimated that
approximately 85% of all halitosis cases have their origin within the
mouth; of these, 50% are caused by tongue residues. Previous studies
have established that hydrogen sulfide and mercaptans are the primary
components of halitosis. Thus, tongue cleaning gains importance as a
means of halitosis management.
Two mechanical methods for tongue cleaning were used: brushing the
tongue with a toothbrush or tongue scrapping. Although the tongue
coating was removed by both methods, the tongue scraper performed better
in reducing the production of volatile sulfur compounds.
Tongue-Cleaning
Methods: A Comparative Clinical Trial Employing a Toothbrush and a
Tongue Scraper Vinícius Pedrazzi, Sandra Sato, Maria da Glória Chiarello
de Mattos, Elza Helena Guimarães Lara, and Heitor Panzeri J
Periodontol 2004;75(7):1009-1012]
What She Needs is a Good Tongue Cleaning by Donald
Antonson, DDS, MEd, Sibel Antonson, DDS, PhD, and Audrey Levitt Galka,
RDH, April 2003
Digest Number 77 Dec 2001
10:48:54 -0000
|
