Tongue Combing - The Forgotten Key to Oral Health
Tongue combing freshens your breath three times more than brushing your teeth and also removes more harmful bacteria from the mouth more effectively than the toothbrush. Tongue Combing is actually the ancient art of scraping the tongue to clean the surface of food debris and harmful bacteria.
Research studies show that 75% of bodily diseases originate or enter through mouth and that harmful bacteria lives on the tongue. And about 80% of breath odors are caused by bacteria found in the mouth and on the tongue. The odor disease causing bacteria are known as Volatile Sulfur Compounds or VSC’s.
The most prominent and common ones are hydrogen sulfide and methyl mercaptan. The odors usually result from the sulfur containing proteins and peptides being hydrolyzed by gram negative bacteria in an alkaline environment. The end products contain the VSC’s.
The naked eye cannot tell them apart but they do smell different and are found in different areas in your mouth. The hydrogen sulfide is usually on the top surface of the tongue and the methyl mercaptan is found under the gum tissues and between the teeth.
The tongue aids in digestion, taste and speech and it harbors an infinite number of disease and odor causing bacteria that need to removed on a daily basis. Unlike your teeth, that can resist bacterial growth for a minimum of three months after a professional cleaning, your tongue needs to be cleaned throughout the day depending on your lifestyle habits including smoking and eating strong tasting foods.
Many factors contribute to tongue bacteria and mouth odor such as dry mouth, gum disease and tongue rings. Cleaning your tongue with an effective tongue cleaning tool will reduce the chances of cavities, periodontal disease and harsh breath. The tongue cleaner is usually referred to as a tongue scraper
and should be gentle on your tongue.
How clean is your tongue?
Your tongue should be a healthy pink and the saliva or tongue juice should be clear to indicate a clean tongue. Explore your tongue.
- Pull it out gently or stick it out of your mouth, look at under bright lights and a magnifying glass. What do you see? Is it pink, red, brown or black. Is it coated with yellow or brown mucous?
- Take a wash cloth or gauze and wipe it. What color is it? Does it smell?
- Lick your wrist and smell it after it dries. Does it smell foul? What shape is your tongue? Does it have valleys, mountains or a hairy appearance?
- Comb it with a tongue cleaner — what is the color of the debris you remove from your tongue?
For a a really healthy body – tongue combing should become a part of your daily hygiene routine. Have your tongue and teeth professionally cleaned and remember, daily tongue combing is the key to fresh breath and oral health.
In addition, I only recommend twobad breath products because I have tested them personally myself. Both work, it isjust a matter of preference:
Therabreath - There is a free trialright now that would be good for you to try risk free.
NativeRemedies - Halitonic - Natural remedy for bad breath
CarolMeyer, R.D.H., is a registered Dental Hygienist, a professional Image Consultant, author, president of PBC - Personal Breath Consultants,Inc., and founder of National Fresh Breath Day - August 6th. She may be reached at Breathlady@hotmail.com or 631-288-7285.
Carol Meyer, RDH
