Dentists Say Your Toothbrush Won't Clean Your Tongue As Well As This $6 Tool
The experts consulted for this story do not necessarily endorse the products ahead unless otherwise noted.
If you're diligent about brushing your teeth (or trying to be), that's great. But to mitigate bad breath, brushing your tongue with your toothbrush likely won't cut it. Your toothbrush's bristles are designed to clean teeth, not odor-causing bacteria on your tongue. Using a tongue scraper can help remove bacteria buildup from your tongue and minimize bad breath, according to previous HuffPost reporting. New York-based dentist Azadeh Akhavan recommended the Dr. Tung scraper specifically. Along with its comfortable grip, reasonable price point and durability, the scraper's stainless steel material may be more comfortable on the tongue than plastic versions, she said.
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'I recommend tongue scraping for adults and even teenagers as an adjunct to your typical oral hygiene routine, especially if you seem to suffer from bad breath even after your typical routine,' Pittsburgh-based dentist Erin Issac previously told HuffPost.
In addition to reducing bad breath, tongue scraping can also improve the taste of your food by removing buildup on your tongue that coats your taste buds, our reporting found. The oral hygiene practice can also benefit your overall tooth and gum health.
To use a scraper, run the tool's U-shaped head along the surface of your tongue, starting at the back of your mouth. Use enough pressure to remove the whitish or yellowish buildup coating your tongue.
Reviewers are big fans of the dentist-recommended Dr. Tung's tongue scraper, writing that the tool improved their breath so radically and near-instantly that the product ' may have saved a marriage ' and ' saved my professional life. ' 'My tongue is now pink,' wrote the reviewer whose scraper purportedly improved their marriage.
True to our experts' predictions, reviewers said that the tool massively improved their sense of taste, too. One person, Sekar, admitted that until using the scraper, they never knew what water tasted like. 'I was astonished by what I tasted,' they wrote.
'It was like my tastebuds were a newborn's,' said another reviewer, who self-described as 'hav[ing] gone 30 years of my life [with] the worst breath known to man' prior to using the scraper. After trying the scraper, their 'crappy breath' hasn't returned. 'This [thing] has literally changed my life,' they wrote.
Grab a Dr. Tung's tongue scraper for yourself at Amazon, or check out more reviewers' accounts:
'I've had this now for almost 5 years. Still looks and works the same. One of the best purchases I've made from Amazon. HIGHLY recommend!' — L-Diva
'This tongue scraper was recommended in a 'best of' products list online. It's a must have, because a toothbrush just isn't enough. I was amazed by how much stuff came off my tongue while using it. My mouth felt so clean. ' — C. Smith
'I bought this scrapper some years ago and have never regretted it. It's easy to clean and sterilize. When I tell you the first time I used this scrapper my God everything had such a wonderful taste to it. Things I have been drinking and eating all my life tasted like the first time I had it. It's amazing how the taste buds dulled over time do to build up. This scrapper is a must buy.' — Darrell Ross
'I've tried brushing my tongue. My Dentist recommended this kind of tool to eliminate bacteria and freshen mouth. Best thing about it? It stimulates no gag reflex! Brilliant tool.' — Catherine Bourke
'I never leave reviews but I cannot recommend this product enough. I first purchased this in 2015 and it is still going strong. It's just a piece of aluminum with handles, but its well worth the price, it has ourlasted at least 15 toothbrushes at this point. Your mouth will never feel the same and I mean that in the best way possible. If you are worried about your breath smelling bad I swear this thing is the best thing you can do for it. Just rinse it well every time and clean it regularly otherwise it can get kinda nasty.' — manofass
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