The “Tik Tok” application is filled with many videos whose owners claim to be healthy, while doctors warn against them, the most prominent of which are drinking chia seed water, eating protein powder, and putting garlic in the nose.
Recently, a new trend has spread through this widely popular application, which is “tongue scraping”, and it has been supported by a large number of dentists, noting that it promotes oral and dental health.
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What is tongue scraping?
While this healthy trend involves the use of a small machine made of copper, steel or reinforced plastic, which comes in the shape of the letter U, it is passed on the surface of the tongue from the back towards the front, 4 or 5 times with light pressure, after brushing and flossing.
On the effectiveness of this method in promoting oral and dental health, dentist Dr. Sandeep Patel confirmed that it eliminates bacteria that cause bad breath, and protects against gum and cavity infections, according to what was stated in the British Daily Mail.
In addition, this method depends on removing the white layer from the tongue, which is considered an accumulation of bacteria and dead cells, as the tongue contains more than 200 different types of bacteria.
While most are good, there are other types that can cause gum disease and tooth decay if they build up.
And the famous American actress, Gwyneth Paltrow, revealed that she begins her day with “scraping the tongue,” noting that it is a healthy habit that everyone should practice.
American actress
Don’t forget to brush your teeth
For his part, a spokesman for the British Dental Association said that it is not recommended to scrape the tongue on a daily basis, adding that this habit does not replace brushing the teeth twice a day with toothpaste, nor does it protect against the harm of eating sugary foods and drinks.
While Dr. Linda Greenwall, founder of the Dental Wellness Trust, confirmed that she advises patients to use a toothbrush to clean their tongues because most of the bad breath factors lie in the tongue, so cleaning it is essential.
Greenwall stressed that brushing teeth at least twice a day is essential, pointing out that daily floss and regular visits to the dentist are extremely important.
Oral hygiene routine
On the other hand, Dr. Patel indicated that tongue scraping is a new trend that is likely to be widely popular in 2023, and it is clear that it is now making its way to the top of the trend and become an essential step in the oral hygiene routine.
He added that although “tongue scraping” is not as important as brushing and flossing, it can be added to the routine of maintaining oral hygiene. While some people use a toothbrush or mouthwash to clean the tongue, scraping the tongue twice a day is also useful.