After each meal, it is customary to draw his toothbrush.
But another tool offers to perfect the oral routine: the tongue scraper.
U-shaped, this plastic, copper or steel accessory, depending on the model, is used to scrape the top of the tongue in order to clean and remove the residual deposit from our food.
In Ayurvedic medicine, it has been considered for millennia as a key element of a purification ritual supposed to help disinfect the body.
Beyond this laudable will, does the utensil really allow us to optimize our oral well-being?
Read alsoTo be well, make your mouth a priority
A hygiene supplement
Our mouth hosts more than 700 different species of bacteria, viruses, fungi.
These micro-organisms do not all have an impact on health, but taking medication, excessive consumption of tobacco, alcohol or sugar, contribute to their proliferation and to the imbalance of this oral microbiota.
"Certain bacteria can become pathogenic and cause infections in the gums (gingivitis), teeth (caries), which can go as far as the stomach, the intestine and even the heart", tells us Nathalie Delphy, surgeon- dentist.
Some bacteria can become pathogenic and cause infections in the gums (gingivitis), teeth (caries), which can go as far as the stomach, intestine and even the heart
Nathalie Delphy, dental surgeon
To guard against it and especially to reduce this bacterial load, it is enough in most cases to be well hydrated and to brush the teeth and its interstices.
According to Bruno Donatini, gastroenterologist and hepatologist, the accessory would therefore not be essential, but rather a non-mandatory hygiene supplement.
And the scientific literature abounds in this direction, according to the doctor, also author of
The mouth, mirror of your health
(1).
In video, how to make your toothpaste?
However, it happens that certain tongue morphologies block cleaning.
“Some individuals have deeper or wider natural cracks or significant papillae on the tongue, which will catch and retain food debris, causing inflammation and sometimes bad breath.
On this point, the tongue scraper can be useful and dislodge them, adds Dr Nathalie Delphy, also president of the Union of Women Dental Surgeons.
Read alsoWhy do we have bad breath when we go a long time without eating?
It also happens that a more or less thick, almost transparent layer forms on the tongue.
“This superficial mucus comes from gastric reflux or a runny nose.
By eliminating it with a tongue scraper, we get rid of the bacteria responsible for ulcers on the tongue, acne, psoriasis on the skin, and joint pain,” says gastroenterologist Bruno Donatini. .
“Overconsumption of coffee, tea, dairy products or cigarettes can also accentuate this deposit,” adds the dental surgeon.
How to use the tongue scraper?
According to Dr. Bruno Donatini, there is no need to use the accessory in the evening after brushing your teeth.
During the night, we salivate less, bacteria are therefore less well eliminated and have plenty of time to proliferate.
The wisest thing is to use the tongue scraper when you wake up, before breakfast.
“We thus avoid swallowing all this mucus loaded with acid reflux”.
By removing the superficial mucus with a tongue scraper, the bacteria responsible for ulcers on the tongue, acne, psoriasis on the skin and joint pain are eliminated.
Bruno Donatini, gastroenterologist and hepatologist
For the gesture, nothing could be simpler.
Grasp the tongue scraper by the handle and place it “as deep as possible on the tongue, beyond the molars”, specifies dental surgeon Nathalie Delphy.
Then scrape gently forward to the tip of the tongue.
Repeat the movement 3 to 5 times if necessary, remembering to rinse the tool well with lukewarm water between each pass.
Finally, finish by drying it well, with a cotton compress for example.
At the same time, this cleaning must imperatively be completed by brushing the gums, teeth and, depending on the needs, a mouthwash.
Notice to those in a hurry, Nathalie Delphy advises against using her toothbrush to replace the tongue scraper.
“Its hairs can be very aggressive for the tongue and create microlesions.
Better to use the models with small pimples on the back, even if it remains less effective, ”she concedes.
Precautions
Whatever your motivations, specialists suggest seeking the advice of a health professional, doctor or dental surgeon, before integrating a tongue scraper into your oral routine.
“The tongue is a good indicator of general health.
Usually, it should be pink like the gums, even a little dark.
A change in color, such as a whitish tint, can hide several causes: oral thrush, inflammation, necrosis or even an unsuitable medication, lists Dr. Nathalie Delphy.
Similarly, pain when scraping the tongue should invite consultation.
(1)
The mouth, mirror of your health
by Bruno Donatini, published by Flammarion, 192 pages, €19.90.
